Time-of-Day Rate Option for Qualifying Ohio Edison, Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company and Toledo Edison Residential Customers

 

FirstEnergy's Ohio electric companies – Ohio Edison, Toledo Edison and The Illuminating Company – are continuing to install smart meters on customers' homes and businesses. Residential customers with smart meters may be eligible for the voluntary Time-of-Day Option (Residential), which is a type of time-varying rate (TVR). The Time-of-Day Option (Residential) is a feature of FirstEnergy Ohio’s Generation Service Rider (Rider GEN), and it is approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

TVRs like the Time-of-Day Option (Residential) can encourage customers to use less electricity, reduce energy bills and benefit the environment by lowering greenhouse gas emissions. 

What is a Time-Varying Rate (TVR)?

A TVR is an electric rate option where the customer’s cost per kilowatt hour of electricity varies based on the time of the day and/or day of the week. By enrolling in a TVR you have the opportunity to save money compared to the Standard Service Offer rate, also known as the “Price to Compare”.

How does the Time-of-Day Option (Residential) work?

The Time-of-Day Option (Residential) can help you lower your energy costs if you shift energy usage away from peak times and/or you reduce energy usage during peak times when electricity demand is highest.

The electric rates are divided into three time-varying categories:

Midday Peak

 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Prevailing Time (EPT) Monday through Friday, excluding holidays*

Shoulder Peak

 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. EPT Monday through Friday, excluding holidays*

Off Peak

 All other hours All other hours

*New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
 

How do I sign up or cancel participation in the Time-of-Day Option (Residential)?

To enroll or unenroll in the Time-of-Day Option (Residential), please call 1-855-344-3400. You can also visit our  Contact Us  page, select the “Email Us” button and select “Billing and Rates” in the “Request Type” drop box.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does a TVR require me to reduce electric usage?

    Although you are not required to reduce your energy use, a TVR like the Time-of-Day Option (Residential) can help you achieve savings if you shift your usage from hours when rates are higher to hours when rates are lower. A combination of shifting usage and reduced consumption would likely result in savings.

  • Are savings guaranteed with the Time-of-Day Option (Residential)?

    No. If you’re not able to shift your electric usage to the lower priced time periods, you could end up paying more than the Standard Service Offer rate.

    Below are illustrative examples of a customer’s electric usage during a summer month and a winter month and the savings produced when the customer’s usage is shifted during the day. 

    Time-of-Day Option (Residential) Summer (June through August)

     

     

     

     

    $/kWh

    kWh Used

    $ Billed

    Standard Service Offer Rate

    $0.073661

    750

    $55.25

    TVR Total

    See below:

    750

    $51.11

    TVR: Midday Peak

    $0.116953

    50

    $5.85

    TVR: Shoulder Peak

    $0.080089

    200

    $16.02

    TVR: Off Peak

    $0.058476

    500

    $29.24

     

    Time-of-Day Option (Residential) Winter (All other months)

     

     

     

     

    $/kWh

    kWh Used

    $ Billed

    Standard Service Offer Rate

    $0.066966

    750

    $50.22

    TVR Total

    See below:

    750

    $46.74

    TVR: Midday Peak

    $0.105561

    50

    $5.28

    TVR: Shoulder Peak

    $0.075346

    200

    $15.07

    TVR: Off Peak

    $0.052780

    500

    $26.39

     

  • How can I manage my electric usage?

    Simple changes to when you use energy-intensive appliances can result in savings on your electric bill and reduce peak demand on the grid, including:

    • Running washing machines, clothes dryers, dishwashers and all large appliances off-peak

    • Using an ENERGY STAR® certified smart thermostat to adjust heating/cooling during on-peak hours or when you are away

    • Using timers on electric water heaters and recirculation pumps so they operate mainly off-peak 

    • Turning off all but essential lights during on-peak hours or putting lights on timers

    • If you have an electric vehicle, charge it off-peak

     

  • How can I review my electric usage?

    Your smart meter automatically detects and records electric usage at hourly intervals, and you will be billed according to your rate plan. Your recorded usage is accessible on the Customer Portal of the FirstEnergy website. You can also use our Home Energy Analyzer, which is a convenient tool to help you better understand your household energy usage and identify ways to improve efficiency. 

    More information can be found by logging into your account.

  • Who is eligible to participate?

    The program is available to residential customers with a FirstEnergy-installed smart meter who are taking generation from their electric company and not shopping with a third-party electric supplier.

  • What if I choose not to participate in the Time-of-Day Option (Residential)?

    The program is voluntary. If you choose not to participate, you will continue to pay the Standard Service Offer rate or you may elect to shop for electric generation with a third-party electric supplier. If you do sign up for the Time-of-Day Option (Residential), you can cancel at any time.