FirstEnergy (FE) Files Ohio Rate Plan Seeking $800M in Annual Grid Upgrades, Gradual Bill Hikes

On May 27, 2026, FirstEnergy’s Ohio utilities filed a three-year rate plan with state regulators requesting roughly $800 million in annual spending on grid modernization, alongside modest increases to customer bills. The proposal, submitted to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio by subsidiaries Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company and Toledo Edison, would fund upgrades to poles, wires and grid technologies aimed at reducing outages. Another $83 million annually would target tree trimming and vegetation management. Residential customers using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month would see average bill increases of 2.2% to 2.8% annually over the three-year period, depending on the service territory. The adjustments apply only to distribution charges, not supply costs. The filing also includes expanded assistance programs, consolidating existing initiatives into a new $4 million Energy Assistance Fund by 2029 and creating a separate $1 million Emergency Energy Support Fund for customers facing disconnection. The commission will now review the plan and open it to public comment before issuing a decision.