How Cleveland Electric Illum compares with the utilities next door
| Utility | 2024 ¢/kWh | Customers | Δ vs Cleveland Electric Illum, ¢/kWh | $/yr difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Niles | 9.31 | 11,882 | -7.45 | -$804 |
| City of Wadsworth | 11.99 | 12,180 | -4.77 | -$515 |
| City of Painesville | 12.75 | 10,832 | -4.01 | -$433 |
| City of Cuyahoga Falls | 13.02 | 24,349 | -3.74 | -$404 |
| City of Cleveland | 14.87 | 64,914 | -1.89 | -$204 |
| Ohio Edison Co | 16.18 | 251,751 | -0.58 | -$63 |
| Cleveland Electric Illum Co (this page) | 16.76 | 131,370 | — | — |
| Lorain-Medina R E C, Inc | 17.26 | 15,234 | +0.50 | +$54 |
| Ohio Power Co | 19.33 | 550,768 | +2.57 | +$278 |
8 bundled utilities (≥5,000 customers) share at least one county with Cleveland Electric Illum. Positive $/yr = that utility's customers pay more than Cleveland Electric Illum customers at the same usage. Territories are fixed by address — these gaps measure cost differences between areas, while the supply portion is separately shoppable in Ohio (see below).
Where Cleveland Electric Illum customers pay more (county benchmark)
| County | Cheapest utility in county | Their ¢/kWh | Cleveland Electric Illum premium, $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trumbull | City of Niles | 9.31 | +$804 |
| Medina | City of Wadsworth | 11.99 | +$515 |
| Summit | City of Wadsworth | 11.99 | +$515 |
| Lake | City of Painesville | 12.75 | +$433 |
| Cuyahoga | City of Cleveland | 14.87 | +$204 |
| Ashtabula | Ohio Edison Co | 16.18 | +$63 |
| Geauga | Ohio Edison Co | 16.18 | +$63 |
| Lorain | Ohio Edison Co | 16.18 | +$63 |
Multiple utilities in one county means adjoining territories, not household choice — you cannot switch wires companies. In Ohio you can shop the supply portion regardless of county. Showing the 8 highest-premium counties of 9 served.
Rate trend and size
| Metric | 2023 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average price, ¢/kWh | 14.40 | 16.76 | +16.4% |
| Residential customers | 296,401 | 131,370 | -55.7% |
Ownership: Investor Owned. Including delivery-only/third-party-supply accounts, Cleveland Electric Illum serves 676,098 residential customers in OH. Statewide context: Ohio electricity rates.
Supply vs delivery on a Cleveland Electric Illum bill
Ohio has residential electric supply choice: Cleveland Electric Illum delivers the power and bills a default supply rate, but you may buy the supply portion from a licensed competitor instead. Compare offers against the price to compare on the state's official shopping site: energychoice.ohio.gov.
Electric and gas choice statewide (Energy Choice Ohio apples-to-apples charts; SSO/SCO = price-to-compare).
Counties served (OH, EIA-861 2024)
Ashtabula · Cuyahoga · Geauga · Lake · Lorain · Medina · Portage · Summit · Trumbull
Head-to-head comparisons
- Ohio Power Co vs Cleveland Electric Illum Co
- Ohio Edison Co vs Cleveland Electric Illum Co
- Cleveland Electric Illum Co vs City of Cleveland
Questions people ask
- Is Cleveland Electric Illum Co more expensive than other Ohio utilities?
- Cleveland Electric Illum Co customers paid an average 16.76 cents/kWh in 2024 — 1% above the Ohio volume-weighted average of 16.62 cents (EIA-861, bundled residential service).
- Can I switch away from Cleveland Electric Illum Co?
- You cannot switch the wires company — distribution territory is fixed by address. Ohio does allow supply choice, so you can buy the supply portion of the bill from a licensed competitor via energychoice.ohio.gov if its offer beats the price to compare.
- How many customers does Cleveland Electric Illum Co have?
- 131,370 residential customers in Ohio in 2024 across 9 counties, per its EIA-861 federal filing. Ownership type: investor-owned.