SOPEC - Community Choice Aggregation Program
The City of Cleveland's Community Choice Electricity Aggregation Program Continues to Provide Savings!
ENROLL NOW - CALL 1-888-733-8512
Through collaboration with Cleveland City Council, SOPEC (Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council) continues to provide the Electric Aggregation Program for the City of Cleveland. Cleveland customers in FirstEnergy / Illuminating Company utility territory can enjoy a competitive fixed rate of 6.762 cents/kWh for electricity supply backed by 100% renewable energy for a 12-month term (August 2024 through July 2025).
This program continues to benefit Cleveland residents compared to the current utility supply rate of 9.39 cents per kWh (valid from July 1, 2025 through August 31, 2025).
The SOPEC aggregation program has saved residents and small businesses an estimated $19 million over the first 21 months (compared to the default utility supply rate or Standard Service Offer) and the program rates have been consistently below the utility’s default rate since it started in August 2023.
Year Three Program Pricing Update
The Public Utility Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has been notifying customers that rates are on the rise. SOPEC, in collaboration with AEP Energy, has proactively negotiated the City’s electric aggregation program rate to help mitigate the increase. For the third year of this program (August 2025 to July 2026), the supply rate will be 9.236 cents ($0.09236) per kWh, backed by 100% renewable energy supply. This 12-month fixed rate is more than the current rate because of unavoidable market conditions that are impacting supply rates across the region. By contrast, The Illuminating Company’s Price to Compare (PTC) for electricity supply will be 9.39 cents ($0.0939) per kWh for the period of July 1, 2025 through August 31, 2025 (rate varies throughout the year).
The current City of Cleveland electric aggregation program rate of 6.762 cents ($0.06762) per kWh is fixed for Cleveland residents through the July 2025 meter reading. The Illuminating Company rate beginning in July 2025 will be 9.39 cents ($0.0939) per kWh (rate varies throughout the year). With a rate of 6.762 cents per kWh through July, Cleveland’s electric aggregation program will continue to protect eligible residents and small businesses with below average June and July summer rates, resulting in significant savings through two hot summer months when electricity usage generally increases due to cooling.
Eligible Cleveland residents and small businesses will receive program letters in late June that outline the Community Choice Aggregation program, including step-down and opt-out pathways. You do not need to return the letter if you wish to remain in the program. For questions related to the program, call the dedicated Cleveland support line at 1-888-733-8512.
What is Community Choice Aggregation?
Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) is the opportunity for the City to provide residents with an alternative "choice" to the default electricity supplier that the utility company uses. CCA programs are not mandatory; residents can opt out if they wish. This is an optional service that the city provides to its residents.
Electricity utility bills have two parts:
DELIVERY (DISTRIBUTION) CHARGES: Fees paid to the local utility to maintain power lines, read meters, and manage the billing process.
SUPPLY (GENERATION) CHARGES: The cost of the actual electricity used, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
NOTE: The SOPEC Electric Aggregation program only affects the Supply (Generation) Charge. The local utility sets the Delivery (Distribution) Charge.
In Ohio, everyone has the option to shop for their own supply.
- CCA programs allow for the City to combine or “aggregate” the electricity supply for residential and small businesses into one bulk amount. This is then used to carefully select an alternative choice to the default electricity supplier that the utility company uses.
- The benefit of combining (or aggregating) into a bulk amount is that this method is more likely to provide a better electricity product at a more stable price than residents could achieve on their own.
Budget Billing
Customers that wish to enroll in a budget billing (or average monthly payment plan) can sign-up for budget billing with both First Energy / The Illuminating Company and AEP Energy to pay an average monthly rate for the entire electric bill. Steps to enroll in an average monthly payment plan for the distribution and transmission charges (First Energy / The Illuminating Company) and the generation/supply charges (AEP Energy) are listed below:
FirstEnergy/The Illuminating Company - Equal Payment Plan (EPP): EPP is a program for residential customers requesting monthly budget billing. The EPP is designed to make Residential Customer's monthly payments consistent throughout a 12-month billing period, leveling out seasonal highs and lows. You will be billed one-twelfth (1/12) of your annual estimated usage each month.
AEP Energy - Budget Billing Plan: For eligible customers in The Illuminating Company service area, please contact one of our Customer Care Representatives toll-free at 1-866-258-3782 or by completing the contact form here to enroll in AEP Energy’s Budget Billing Plan. Every fourth month, AEP Energy will review your account balance and may modify your monthly installment if actual charges (electricity usage) vary considerably.
Most Common FAQ's
I am a FirstEnergy/Illuminating Company customer — how do I enroll?
No action is required. All eligible customers are automatically enrolled in the program.
If you are currently contracted with an independent energy supplier, you were not automatically enrolled — but you are eligible. You can call 1-888-733-8512 to enroll.
How do I know if I am eligible to participate in the new program?
Cleveland customers in the FirstEnergy / Illuminating Company utility territory are automatically eligible. However, there are exceptions:
- Customers enrolled in PIPP are not affected by rate increases, as their bills are based on household income and remain consistent year-round.
- Customers contracted with an independent energy supplier will not be automatically enrolled. These customers are eligible and can call 1-888-733-8512 to enroll.
- Accounts that use more than 700,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually are not eligible.
- If your account is registered on the PUCO Do-Not-Aggregate list, you are not eligible.
How do I know if I’m in the program already?
If your recent electric bill lists AEP Energy as the supplier with a rate of $0.06762 per kWh, you are already enrolled in the program.
To learn more about how to read your Illuminating Company electric bill, visit www.sopec-oh.gov/s/How-to-Read-Electric-Bill-web-FE-nj5j.pdf.
Can I still participate if I am already contracted with another energy supplier?
You may be able to withdraw from your current supplier with an early or no termination fee, but please check with your supplier directly. Once your contract ends — and if you meet the program's eligibility criteria — you will be automatically enrolled in the City's electricity aggregation program.
There is no cost to enroll in the program, and no fees to leave the SOPEC program. If you are unsure of your status, please call 1-888-733-8512.
What should I do if I receive solicitations (door knocks, phone calls, etc.) from independent energy suppliers?
We advise that you DO NOT sign anything. Instead, write down the representative’s name and company information, and immediately contact PUCO at 800-686-7876.
These companies are not part of the City’s Community Choice Aggregation Program and may lock you into an unfavorable or misleading contract.
If PUCO confirms the electricity supplier is certified and you choose not to join the City of Cleveland’s aggregation program, we strongly recommend asking the following questions before agreeing to anything:
Are you offering a fixed-rate electricity supply contract?
What is the fixed rate price?
How long will that fixed rate last? One month? Six months? A year? What happens to my price after that?
Can I end the contract without an early termination fee or other penalties if I choose to join the City’s aggregation program later?
What are my other options?
If you choose to opt out, you will default to the utility’s Price to Compare — currently 7.1872 cents per kWh from April 1, 2025, through May 31, 2025 (note: this rate varies throughout the year).
If you prefer not to be automatically enrolled in the City’s program, you can visit the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) Apples to Apples electricity comparison tool or call 800-686-7826 for help finding your own electricity supplier.
Additional questions to ask when selecting a supplier are available on the PUCO website:
https://puco.ohio.gov/utilities/electricity/resources/choosing-an-electric-supplier
Call 1-888-733-8512
Want to enroll or have questions? Call SOPEC now! 📞