Ohio Edison Service Territory: Commercial Rate Guide
Ohio Edison Commercial Service Territory Guide
Ohio Edison, a FirstEnergy company, serves approximately 1 million electric customers across Northeast and Central Ohio. This guide provides comprehensive information for commercial customers in Ohio Edison's extensive service territory.
Service Territory Overview
Ohio Edison's electric service territory covers:
- Primary Markets: Akron, Canton, Youngstown, Warren, Alliance, Salem
- Counties Served: Summit, Stark, Mahoning, Trumbull, Portage, Columbiana, and portions of 15+ other counties
- Grid Infrastructure: Part of PJM Interconnection with robust transmission network
- Industrial Heritage: Steel, rubber, manufacturing, and emerging technology sectors
Understanding Ohio Edison's Rate Structure
Price to Compare (PTC): Ohio Edison publishes a "Price to Compare" for default supply service.
Current Market Conditions (Winter 2025-2026):
- Small Commercial (< 100 kW): ~6.9¢/kWh PTC
- Medium Commercial (100-500 kW): ~6.5¢/kWh PTC
- Large Industrial (> 500 kW): Custom pricing based on load characteristics
Delivery Charges: Regulated by PUCO:
- Customer charge: $16-45/month depending on rate class
- Distribution charge: ~2.2-2.7¢/kWh
- Transmission charge: ~0.7-1.0¢/kWh
- Riders and surcharges: ~0.5-0.8¢/kWh
Ohio Edison Rate Classes
Rate GS (General Service): Small commercial customers with demand under 15 kW. Typical for small retail, offices, and restaurants.
Rate GP (General Purpose): Medium commercial customers with demand 15-500 kW. Most commercial buildings and light industrial facilities.
Rate GT (General Transmission): Large customers with demand over 500 kW, often served at primary or transmission voltage.
Rate STL (Street Lighting): Municipal and private street lighting systems.
Polymer Valley Energy Considerations
Akron's "Polymer Valley" creates specialized energy needs:
Chemical Processing: High-temperature processes require stable, high-quality power.
Research Facilities: Universities and R&D centers need reliable power for sensitive equipment.
Batch Manufacturing: Intermittent high loads create demand charge challenges.
Clean Room Operations: Power quality critical for precision manufacturing.
Steel Valley Transformation
The Mahoning Valley's transition from steel to advanced manufacturing:
Legacy Infrastructure: Repurposed industrial sites often have high-capacity electrical service.
3D Printing/Additive Manufacturing: New industries with different energy profiles than traditional steel.
Data Centers: Former industrial sites being converted to data centers leveraging existing power infrastructure.
Economic Development Incentives: Special rates available for businesses revitalizing former industrial sites.
Competitive Supply Opportunities
Ohio Edison customers have robust competitive supply options:
Rate Savings: Competitive suppliers often offer rates 12-20% below PTC, especially for customers with favorable load profiles.
Product Diversity:
- Fixed-rate products for budget certainty
- Variable-rate products to capture market dips
- Block-and-index for sophisticated buyers
- Green energy options for sustainability goals
Contract Flexibility: Terms from 12-60 months to match business cycles.
Volume Discounts: Multi-site customers can aggregate for better pricing.
FirstEnergy Economic Development Programs
Job Retention Rate (JRR): Discounted rates for businesses maintaining employment levels.
Economic Development Rider (EDR): Special rates for new or expanding businesses creating jobs.
Reasonable Arrangement: Custom rate structures for large industrial customers.
Energy Efficiency Incentives: Rebates for lighting, HVAC, motors, and process improvements.
Ohio Edison Service Quality
Reliability Metrics:
- SAIDI: ~88 minutes annually (better than state average)
- SAIFI: ~1.2 interruptions annually
- Significant grid modernization investments improving reliability
Smart Grid Technology: Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) deployment across service territory.
Storm Response: FirstEnergy's regional resources enable rapid restoration after severe weather.
Customer Service: 24/7 support at 1-800-633-4766.
Demand Charge Management
Ohio Edison's demand charges can significantly impact your bill:
How Demand is Measured: Based on your highest 15-minute average demand during the billing period.
Typical Demand Charges:
- GP Rate: $8-11/kW depending on season
- GT Rate: $9-13/kW with potential ratchet clauses
Strategies to Reduce Demand:
- Stagger equipment startups
- Implement load shedding during peak periods
- Install demand controllers
- Consider on-site generation or storage
Comparing Ohio Edison to Other Ohio Utilities
vs. The Illuminating Company: Similar rates; both FirstEnergy companies with shared infrastructure.
vs. AEP Ohio: Ohio Edison rates typically 1-3% lower for comparable service classes.
vs. Duke Energy Ohio: Ohio Edison offers better rates for industrial customers; Duke better for small commercial.
vs. AES Ohio (Dayton): Ohio Edison rates generally 3-5% lower across all classes.
Best Practices for Ohio Edison Customers
Annual Rate Shopping: Compare Ohio Edison's PTC to competitive offers at least once per year.
Demand Monitoring: Track your peak demand monthly and implement reduction strategies.
Power Factor Correction: Poor power factor can result in penalties; maintain above 0.90.
Economic Development Programs: If expanding or relocating, explore FirstEnergy's economic development rates.
Energy Efficiency Rebates: Take advantage of FirstEnergy's rebate programs for equipment upgrades.
Interconnection for Distributed Generation
Ohio Edison's process for customers installing solar, CHP, or other generation:
Net Metering: Available for systems up to 25 kW (residential) or 500 kW (commercial).
Interconnection Standards: Follows Ohio's standardized interconnection process.
Timeline: Simple systems (< 25 kW) can interconnect in 30-45 days; larger systems take 60-120 days.
Standby Charges: Customers with on-site generation may face standby service charges.
Next Steps for Ohio Edison Customers
Upload Your Bill: Send us a recent Ohio Edison bill for competitive supply analysis.
Demand Charge Audit: We'll analyze your demand patterns and identify reduction opportunities.
Economic Development Assessment: If you're expanding, we'll help navigate FirstEnergy's programs.
Supplier RFP: We'll run a competitive bidding process with 5-10 suppliers to find your best rate.
Multi-Site Aggregation: For businesses with multiple Ohio Edison accounts, we'll analyze aggregation opportunities.