The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio is holding public hearings this month on FirstEnergy’s request to approve the electricity supplier’s security plan that could raise the average customer’s monthly bill by 2.2%.

The PUCO held a public hearing in Cleveland on Thursday and plans to hold two more hearings in Akron and Toledo later this month before holding an evidentiary hearing in November on the application which, if approved, would increase the bill for an average residential customer using 750 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month by $3.11. Over the eight-year term of the plan, the estimated average annual impact on customers’ bills would be an increase of 0.5%, according to FirstEnergy.

FirstEnergy says the increases would support investments in modernizing and maintaining the electric distribution system, as well as create new customer assistance programs and energy efficiency initiatives that help customers manage and control their electric bills.

“Our plan will build on the significant enhancements we’ve made to reinforce the grid against progressively stronger storms,” said Patricia Mullin, acting president of FirstEnergy’s Ohio operations.

The requested increase comes just after the PUCO notified consumers that default electricity prices, identified as the “price-to-compare” on residential customers’ bills, increased dramatically on June 1, 2023, because of upward pressure on wholesale electricity markets.

The remaining public hearings on FirstEnergy’s latest request will be held as follows:

Sept. 14, 2023, 6:00 p.m.

  • Board of Lucas County Commissioners
  • One Government Center, Suite 800
  • Toledo, OH 43604

 Sept. 26, 2023, 4:30 p.m.

  • Akron-Summit County Public Library
  • 60 S. High Street, Room 2AB
  • Akron, OH 44308

No public hearings are scheduled in Youngstown.

Those that testify will have their comments included in the case record.

Written comments may also be addressed to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, 180 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio, 43215. Comments should reference case docket number 23-301-EL-SSO.

A copy of FirstEnergy’s application and the entry scheduling the public hearing is available on the PUCO website www.PUCO.ohio.gov by clicking on the links to “Docketing Information System” and searching for case 23-301-EL-SSO.

Ohio utility customers may also "shop around" for more favorable rates by visiting the Energy Choice Ohio website.