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Office of Sustainability

SOPEC- Cleveland Community Choice Aggregation

SOPEC - Community Choice Aggregation Program

 

The City of Cleveland's Community Choice Aggregation is Here for a Second Year!
 

ENROLL NOW - CALL 1-888-733-8512

 

Through collaboration with Cleveland City Council, SOPEC (Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council) will continue to provide the Electric Aggregation Program for the City of Cleveland. Cleveland customers in the FirstEnergy/Illuminating Company utility territory can enjoy a competitive fixed rate of 6.762 cents/kWh for electricity supply backed by 100% renewable energy for a 12-month term (August 2024 through July 2025).

 

In the program's first year, SOPEC secured a very competitive default fixed rate for the electricity supply, backed by 100% Green-e certified Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). The first year of the program has saved Cleveland residents and small businesses over $13M or approximately $250 per enrolled account when compared to the default utility supply rate or Standard Service Offer (SSO).

 

For the second year of the program, eligible residents and small businesses in the City of Cleveland can enjoy a competitive fixed rate of 6.762 cents ($0.06762) per kWh of electricity supply backed by 100% renewable energy for a 12-month term beginning with their August 2024 meter read. This program continues to offer significant benefits to Cleveland residents compared to the current utility supply rate of 7.1872 cents per kWh (valid from April 1, 2025 through May 31, 2025; rate varies throughout the year).

 

Eligible Cleveland residents and small businesses will receive program letters from SOPEC that outline the community choice aggregation program, including step-down and opt-out pathways. For questions related to the program, contact SOPEC at 1-888-733-8512.

 

What is Community Choice Aggregation?

Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) is the opportunity for the City to provide residents with an alternative "choice" to the default electricity supplier that the utility company uses. CCA programs are not mandatory; residents can opt out if they wish. This is an optional service that the City provides to its residents, and this is how it works:

Electricity utility bills have two parts:

  1. A usage fee to move electricity through its wires

  2. A supply fee for the actual flow of electricity through its wires

     

In Ohio, everyone has the option to shop for their own supply
 

  • CCA programs allow for the City to combine or “aggregate” the electricity supply for residential and small businesses into one bulk amount. This is then used to carefully select an alternative choice to the default electricity supplier that the utility company uses.

  • The benefit of combining (or aggregating) into a bulk amount is that this method is more likely to provide a better electricity product at a more stable price than residents could achieve on their own.

Other Utility Programs

Cleveland residents with low-household incomes are encouraged to apply for utility assistance. Various options are available:

If you are a low-income household experiencing high-energy burdens, we encourage you to enroll in utility assistance programs to help manage energy costs.

To schedule an appointment or for application assistance, residents can do so online or call 216-350-8008:

The Summer Crisis Program is an assistance program that provides cooling and electric utility assistance during the summer months. Applications are open from July 1 through September 30. To apply for the Summer Crisis Program, an appointment is required. You must meet one of the following criteria:

  • Have a household member who is 60 years of age or older; or

  • Have a household member who can provide physician documentation that cooling assistance is needed for health reasons; or

  • Have a disconnect notice, services have been shut off, or are trying to establish new electric service; or

  • Be enrolling in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) for the first time or have a PIPP default.

Learn more about the Summer Crisis Program

Enroll in PIPP (Percentage of Income Payment Plan).
This program helps Ohioans afford utility bills through income-based subsidies. Applications are accepted year-round and can be submitted online — no appointment is required. 

Please note that PIPP applications can take up to 12–13 weeks to process.

Learn more about PIPP

HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) is a federally funded program that provides a one-time payment to low-income households to help cover home heating and cooling costs.

HEAP benefits can be combined with PIPP benefits. Applications are accepted from July 1, 2024, through May 31, 2025, and can be submitted online — no appointment is required.

Learn more about HEAP

Most Common FAQ's

No action is required. All eligible customers are automatically enrolled in the program.

If you are currently contracted with an independent energy supplier, you were not automatically enrolled — but you are eligible. You can call 1-888-733-8512 to enroll.

Cleveland customers in the FirstEnergy / Illuminating Company utility territory are automatically eligible. However, there are two exceptions:

  • Customers enrolled in PIPP are not affected by rate increases, as their bills are based on household income and remain consistent year-round.

  • Customers contracted with an independent energy supplier will not be automatically enrolled. These customers are eligible and can call 1-888-733-8512 to enroll.

You may be able to withdraw from your current supplier with an early or no termination fee, but please check with your supplier directly. Once your contract ends — and if you meet the program's eligibility criteria — you will be automatically enrolled in the City's electricity aggregation program.

There is no cost to enroll in the program, and no fees to leave the SOPEC program. If you are unsure of your status, please call 1-888-733-8512.

We advise that you DO NOT sign anything. Instead, write down the representative’s name and company information, and immediately contact PUCO at 800-686-7876.

These companies are not part of the City’s Community Choice Aggregation Program and may lock you into an unfavorable or misleading contract.

If PUCO confirms the electricity supplier is certified and you choose not to join the City of Cleveland’s aggregation program, we strongly recommend asking the following questions before agreeing to anything:

  • Are you offering a fixed-rate electricity supply contract?

  • What is the fixed rate price?

  • How long will that fixed rate last? One month? Six months? A year? What happens to my price after that?

  • Can I end the contract without an early termination fee or other penalties if I choose to join the City’s aggregation program later?

If you choose to opt out, you will default to the utility’s Price to Compare — currently 7.1872 cents per kWh from April 1, 2025, through May 31, 2025 (note: this rate varies throughout the year).

If you prefer not to be automatically enrolled in the City’s program, you can visit the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) Apples to Apples electricity comparison tool or call 800-686-7826 for help finding your own electricity supplier.

Additional questions to ask when selecting a supplier are available on the PUCO website:
https://puco.ohio.gov/utilities/electricity/resources/choosing-an-electric-supplier