FirstEnergy electric companies The Illuminating Company, Ohio Edison and Toledo Edison announced on Apr. 23 that they intend to submit their first Three-Year Rate Plan (TYRP) to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio by May 22. The plan is designed to support upgrades across the electric system and provide customers with greater clarity about planned work and its impact on bills.
The TYRP represents a shift from past practices, as it allows utilities in Ohio to set distribution rates based on a forward-looking, three-year plan rather than only recovering costs already spent. This approach aims to make bill changes more predictable for customers and help them understand why specific projects are necessary.
“Our TYRP is about careful and balanced planning,” said Torrence Hinton, President of FirstEnergy Ohio. “We’re focused on upgrading the electric system customers rely on every day, and we know affordability matters. Recent upgrades helped show what works best, and we’re building the three-year plan around the work that will make the biggest difference, keeping costs in check and clearly explaining what customers are paying for.”
According to FirstEnergy’s announcement, planned investments include an average of $800 million annually for neighborhood infrastructure improvements such as poles, wires and equipment upgrades, along with technology enhancements aimed at faster response during severe weather events. Tree trimming near power lines will also be expanded with an average annual investment of $83 million due to its significant role in reducing outages.
The TYRP will continue existing assistance programs while introducing new support options for low-income customers. Energy efficiency programs for income-eligible households will remain in place alongside efforts encouraging large users to reduce electricity use during peak demand periods. Projected bill impacts over three years include an average annual increase of 2.2% ($4.26 per month) for Ohio Edison residential customers using about 1,000 kilowatt-hours monthly; similar increases are expected for The Illuminating Company (2.6%, $5.15/month) and Toledo Edison (2.8%, $5.30/month). If approved by PUCO, these increases would be below the national ten-year average inflation rate of 3.3%.
FirstEnergy emphasizes corporate responsibility through environmental initiatives and community engagement according to its official website. The company manages approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines and over 269,000 miles of distribution lines as detailed online, serving more than six million customers across several states including Ohio according to company history records.
The company has been recognized as a compliance leader with awards for environmental stewardship and military-friendly practices according to its official website. FirstEnergy aims to function as a progressive utility focused on integrity and reliability through a diverse workforce committed to improving customer experiences as well as environmental conditions according to its official website.
Looking ahead, if approved by regulators this summer’s filing could lead other utilities toward similar long-term planning approaches that emphasize both reliability improvements and customer affordability.
