By 1812Blockhouse
FirstEnergy’s three Ohio electric utilities are preparing to ask state regulators for approval of a new three-year rate plan that would begin increasing customer bills in 2027.
Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company, and Toledo Edison plan to file their first Three-Year Rate Plan, or TYRP, with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio by May 22, 2026. If approved, the plan would take effect in 2027 and run for three years, with annual reviews and updates during that period.
What Customers Could See
For a typical non-shopping residential customer using about 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month, FirstEnergy estimates average annual bill increases of:
| Utility | Estimated average annual increase | Estimated monthly increase each year |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio Edison | 2.2% | About $4.26 |
| The Illuminating Company | 2.6% | About $5.15 |
| Toledo Edison | 2.8% | About $5.30 |
Those figures apply only to the distribution portion of the bill, which covers the local poles, wires, equipment, and systems used to deliver electricity. They do not include the cost of electricity supply, which is set through competitive suppliers or auctions.
The Company’s Case For The Increase
FirstEnergy says the plan is intended to support significant upgrades to Ohio’s electric distribution system, including replacement of aging equipment, improved outage response, expanded tree trimming, and better customer communication systems.
According to the company, the three-year structure is designed to make rate changes more predictable by spreading costs over time rather than relying on larger, one-time base-rate cases. FirstEnergy has said the plan would include about $800 million annually for poles, wires, equipment, technology, and related infrastructure work, along with about $83 million annually for expanded tree trimming. The company also says it plans to continue existing customer assistance programs, add new support for low-income customers, and continue energy-efficiency help for income-eligible households.
Why The Process Matters
The rate plan is not automatic. The PUCO will review the filing and can approve, reject, or modify it before any changes take effect.
The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel notes that in cases involving potential rate increases, the PUCO must hold at least one public hearing within the utility’s service area. Customers may also submit written comments through the PUCO process. That means the first key date is not 2027, when bills could begin to change, but May 22, 2026, when FirstEnergy expects to place the proposal formally before state regulators.
A Filing Likely To Draw Scrutiny
The proposal comes after a period of intense regulatory attention on FirstEnergy in Ohio. In November 2025, the PUCO ordered FirstEnergy’s Ohio utilities to pay more than $250 million in penalties and refunds after finding violations connected to prior customer-collected funds and legacy audit issues. FirstEnergy said at the time that the decision concerned past conduct and pointed to planned Ohio infrastructure investments from 2025 through 2029.
That history is likely to shape how consumer advocates, regulators, and the public evaluate any new request tied to grid investment and customer bills.
What Comes Next
For now, customers do not need to take any action, and no bill change has been approved. The filing expected by May 22 will begin the formal regulatory review. From there, the key questions will be whether the proposed investments are justified, whether the bill impacts are reasonable, an
