Cleveland City Council considers updates to Cleveland Public Power rates

Cleveland City Council is reviewing a proposal that would adjust electricity rates and service definitions for the city's municipal utility. Ordinance 1171-2026, introduced by Council Members Kazy and Griffin, seeks to amend several sections of the Codified Ordinances regarding the Division of Cleveland Public Power (CPP) to update residential rate schedules and establish new rules for small non-building facilities.

What's in the file

The proposed ordinance would amend Chapter 523 of the Codified Ordinances to change how electrical services are billed and defined. According to the official legislative document, the measure includes the following changes:

* Residential Rate Schedules: The ordinance outlines a multi-year schedule for residential customers. For "Monthly Fixed Charges" on electric service agreements of 1 kWh or more, the proposal sets the fee at $2.00 for 2027, $4.00 for 2028, and $5.00 for 2029.
* Kilowatt Hour (kWh) Charges: The document provides specific tiered pricing for summer and winter months. For example, in 2026, the summer rate for the first 1,000 kWh is listed at $0.0970, while the winter rate is $0.0821.
* New Provisions: The ordinance seeks to repeal Section 523.062 and enact new sections 523.012, 523.068, and 523.30, which pertain to definitions, rates for small non-building facilities, and joint registration.

The rationale provided in the ordinance notes that as Cleveland Public Power transitioned away from coal-fired electricity generation, the utility had to invest in new infrastructure to import and distribute power in compliance with environmental regulations. The Division of Cleveland Public Power serves approximately 74,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers and operates one of the largest municipally owned electric utilities in the United States.

Who may be affected

The ordinance specifically names the following groups and departments:
* The Division of Cleveland Public Power
* The Department of Public Utilities
* Residential customers using electricity for domestic and household purposes

Status and timeline

The ordinance was introduced on September 24, 2026, and has completed its first reading. This move follows a recent trend in utility-related legislative activity in Cleveland, with 45 utility-related items appearing before the council in the last 90 days.

Residents can verify the details of this proposal by reviewing the original record at the Cleveland City Council Legistar website.

Source record

File
1171-2026
Type
Ordinance
Status
First Reading
Committee
City Council
Introduced
September 23, 2026

View on Cleveland Legistar

Official documents

Sources