FirstEnergy Proposes $800M Annual Grid Upgrades, 2.2–2.8% Bill Increases for Ohio Customers
FE•FirstEnergy’s Ohio utilities filed a three-year plan seeking $800 million annually for grid upgrades plus $83 million for vegetation management. Residential customers using about 1,000 kWh monthly would face 2.2–2.8% annual bill hikes, and the plan proposes a $4 million assistance fund plus a $1 million emergency support fund.
1. Three-Year Rate Plan Filing
Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company and Toledo Edison submitted a three-year rate plan to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, proposing average annual investments of $800 million in poles, wires and grid technologies plus $83 million for vegetation management to enhance reliability and reduce outages.
2. Customer Bill Impact
Residential customers using approximately 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month would see distribution charges increase by 2.2–2.8% annually over the three-year period, with adjustments applying only to the distribution portion of bills while supply costs remain determined by competitive providers.
3. Assistance and Efficiency Programs
The proposal includes creation of a $4 million Energy Assistance Fund in 2029 through program consolidation and a $1 million Emergency Energy Support Fund for reconnection or disconnection prevention, alongside ongoing energy-efficiency initiatives such as weatherization assistance and smart thermostat rebates.
4. Regulatory Review Process
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio will review the filing, open it to public comment and then issue a decision, with multi-year rate plans designed to improve visibility into capital spending and reduce the frequency of individual rate cases.
