Green Resource Program Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Green Resource Program?
What types of alternative energy resources would be supported through the Green Resource Program?
What are Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)?
Who can participate?
What will it cost to participate?
How do I sign up to participate in the Green Resource Program?
Is there a minimum or maximum amount I can purchase?
If I use less electricity than the amount of Green Product I purchased, do I still have to pay for the Green Product I requested that month?
Is the program voluntary?
Is this program available to customers of FirstEnergy’s operating companies in states other than Ohio?
When does the program begin and end?
Can I cancel my automatic monthly purchase? 

What is the Green Resource Program?
The Green Resource Program provides customers of our Ohio operating companies with the opportunity to support the development of alternative energy resources on a voluntary basis. We recently acquired the right to purchase Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), which come from alternative energy sources of electric power generation, and organized them into smaller Green Product blocks. Those blocks are now available for our Ohio customers to purchase.

What types of alternative energy resources would be supported through the Green Resource Program?
RECs in the Green Resource Program will come from at least one of the following resources:  wind, solar photovoltaic, biomass co-firing of agricultural crops and all energy crops, hydro (as certified by the Low Impact Hydro Institute), incremental improvements in large scale hydro, waste coal, coal mine methane, landfill gas, biogas digesters, biomass co-firing of all woody waste, including mill residue but excluding painted or treated lumber.

What are Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)?
When an alternative energy generator – for example, a wind or other alternative power generator – produces one megawatt-hour of electricity that is sold into the electricity market, it produces one REC. That REC is then sold to a buyer, such as an individual or an organization like FirstEnergy’s operating companies, and organized into smaller Green Product blocks for customers to purchase. When customers purchase the Green Product blocks, they are supporting the acquisition of RECs – which help sustain a market for the environmental attributes of alternative energy sources.

Because some alternative sources of power are currently more expensive to build, the creation and sale of RECs make alternative resources more competitive with the cost of traditional forms of generation, such as coal, natural gas and nuclear.

Who can participate?
This voluntary program is available to all Ohio Edison Company, The Toledo Edison Company and The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company metered customers, except for those on the Percentage of Income Payment Plan.

What will it cost to participate?
We recently acquired the right to purchase RECs and organize them into smaller Green Product blocks. Each Green Product block, which is equivalent to 100 kilowatt-hours (KWH) of alternative energy attributes, costs $0.50 per month. Customers must agree to purchase at least two blocks per month of the Green Product – up to 50 blocks per month. Customers may participate through an automatic monthly purchase agreement.

For a minimum of only $1.00 per month (2 blocks at $0.50 each), customers can support the Green Resource Program. And for $5.00 per month (10 blocks), the Green Product monthly purchase represents approximately 100 percent of an average residential customer's monthly usage.

This amount is not affected by the customer’s actual energy consumption and will be in addition to the monthly charges determined according to the company's rate schedule under which the customer takes service.

Customers should remember that when they purchase the Green Product blocks, they are supporting alternative energy development through the acquisition of RECs. The cost of their purchase is in addition to their regular monthly electric bill. They will not receive any additional electricity from their purchase of the Green Product; however, they are helping to sustain a market for the environmental attributes of alternative energy sources.

How do I sign up to participate in the Green Resource Program?
Customers can voluntarily participate in the Green Resource Program. The cost of the Green Product blocks will appear on the customer's next monthly bill after enrollment has been processed - and will continue monthly through December 2008. Click here to enroll online or click the image below.

Is there a minimum or maximum amount I can purchase?
Customers who participate in this program agree to purchase a minimum of two blocks of the Green Product at $0.50 each for a total of $1.00 per month. Customers are limited to purchasing 50 Green Product blocks per month. 

If I use less electricity than the amount of Green Product I purchased, do I still have to pay for the Green Product I requested that month?
Yes. The purchase of the Green Product is in addition to your regular monthly electric bill. The amount of electricity you use during the month does not affect your payment for the Green Product. You are billed for the amount of the Green Product blocks you request, and the total cost of the blocks is added to your monthly electric bill in addition to the billing for the electricity you use. You will not receive any additional electricity from your purchase of the Green Product.

Is the program voluntary?
Yes, this is a voluntary program.

Is this program available to customers of FirstEnergy’s operating companies in states other than Ohio?
No. The Green Resource Program is available only to Ohio Edison Company, The Toledo Edison Company and The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company customers.

When does the program begin and end?
Customers may begin participating in the Green Resource Program as early as December 1, 2007. The Green Resource Program is currently scheduled to last through the end of 2008.

Can I cancel my automatic monthly purchase? 
Yes, you can cancel your automatic monthly purchase anytime with the Green Resource Program. Click here to cancel online.

(11/14/07)