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Ohio · Updated October 2026
The Illuminating Company rates in 2026
What The Illuminating Company customers are actually paying, where the number comes from, and what it means for your bill. Serving Cleveland, Lakewood, Parma, Euclid, Mentor and the greater Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula area. The price to compare — the generation portion only — is 11.16¢ per kWh. Delivery, transmission and riders come on top of it; the Ohio statewide all-in average is about 19.5¢.
~19.5¢All-in residential rate · 11.16¢ price to compareRanked #1 by Solar Power World · Inc. 5000 · 20,000+ installations
Estimate what solar does against your The Illuminating Company bill
Enter your bill and we’ll size the array that would cover it, and show the gross value of that production at your rate. It does not net off the customer charge, taxes or what you would still draw at night — for that, use the bill savings calculator. Nothing is sent anywhere; this runs in your browser.
An estimate from your own numbers, not a quote, and not a savings figure. It assumes 400 W panels, an 80% system derate and no roof constraints. Your real number depends on orientation, roof area and your utility’s export credit. Savings are not guaranteed.
The numbers
Where The Illuminating Company stands right now
| Measure | Current | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Price to compare (generation) | 11.16¢ | July 1 – September 30, 2026 · PUCO Apples to Apples |
| Ohio all-in residential average | ~19.5¢ | EIA statewide average, August 2026 — The Illuminating Company does not publish an all-in figure |
| Reset schedule | Quarterly | The price to compare resets quarterly; the generation rider reset June 1, 2026 and runs to May 31, 2027. |
| 2026 change | ↑ | The generation rider rose from 8.91¢ to 10.14¢ per kWh on June 1, 2026 — about 14%, the largest of the three FirstEnergy companies. The pending three-year distribution case (26-0347-EL-AIR) seeks about $5.15 a month more per year from 2027, roughly $15.45 a month by year three. |
Figures as published September 2026. Utility rates change on published schedules — check your own bill for the rate that applies to your account.
Why the number is what it is
What is actually driving this
PJM capacity costs
The Illuminating Company’s standard-offer generation clears through PJM. The June 2026 rider carried the capacity price cap into every default-service bill.
A pending distribution case
FirstEnergy’s three-year plan would raise Illuminating Company delivery charges the most of its three Ohio utilities, about $5.15 a month per year from 2027.
Data-center load
Large computing loads across PJM arrive faster than new generation; the transmission to serve them is recovered from ratepayers.
The honest cost picture
Two ways to pay for solar, and they are very different
If you buy the system
You own the equipment, you keep any renewable energy credits, and you carry the maintenance responsibility. Installed pricing varies by roof, shading and system size.
If you use a PPA
$0 upfront. We install and own the system; you buy the power it produces at a rate set in your agreement, and you only pay for what it actually generates. The system owner carries maintenance for the life of the agreement.
How $0-down solar works in Ohio → · What solar costs in Ohio →
Cities we cover in this utility area: Solar in Cleveland →
The residential federal tax credit (25D) ended for property placed in service after December 31, 2025.
You will still see ads promising a 30% credit that “ends December 31.” Read the date on them. If you buy a system today as a homeowner, you cannot claim that credit. What remains applies to the owner of the system — which, under a PPA, is us. SolarAmerica does not provide tax advice; talk to your tax professional about your situation.
Going solar with The Illuminating Company
The Illuminating Company net metering and solar programs
When your panels make more power than your home is using, the extra flows onto The Illuminating Company’s grid and is credited on your The Illuminating Company bill under Ohio’s net metering rules. How much each exported kilowatt-hour is worth is set by those rules, and it is one of the biggest factors in how your system should be sized. How net metering works in Ohio.
Does The Illuminating Company have a solar program?
The Illuminating Company connects home solar systems to its grid and credits the power you send back, but it does not install panels. State incentives are covered in our Ohio solar incentives guide, and SolarAmerica handles the The Illuminating Company interconnection application for you.
How do I sign up for net metering with The Illuminating Company?
There is no separate sign-up. It is set up as part of the interconnection application your installer files with The Illuminating Company before your system is turned on, and SolarAmerica files it for you.
$0-down solar in Ohio → · Solar panel installation cost in Ohio → · Net metering credit calculator →
Who you would be working with
SolarAmerica
We design your system and manage the project; installation is performed by vetted licensed partners in your area.
The Illuminating Company questions
The things people actually ask
What is the Illuminating Company’s price to compare right now?
11.16¢ per kWh for residential customers, July 1 through September 30, 2026, per the PUCO Apples to Apples comparison.
What changed on June 1, 2026?
The generation rider went from 8.91¢ to 10.14¢ per kWh, about 14%, and holds through May 31, 2027.
Can I shop for supply?
Yes. Ohio is a retail-choice state, and switching changes only the generation portion of the bill.
See what your roof and The Illuminating Company actually add up to
About 60 seconds. No cost, no obligation, and we will tell you if solar does not make sense for your home.
Ranked #1 by Solar Power World · 20,000+ installations · Licensed installers