According to the PUCO's monthly Utility Rate Survey, CEI's monthly charge for 750 kwh in January, February and March was $82.64. CPP's bills for the same usage were $80.28 in January, $83.98 in February and $80.87 in March. The February CPP bill was 2% higher than CEI's.
The February spike in CPP's energy charge was a small anomaly -- the "typical" CPP customer still had a tiny savings over the "typical" CEI customer (about 1%) during the whole first quarter. And the gap during the five summer months may be greater (it was 5% to 9% in 2003). But February's mini-historical event illuminates the shameful fact that Cleveland Public Power -- which still likes to posture as the affordable, competitive alternative to high-cost CEI -- has stopped being part of the solution for city consumers, and is now part of the problem.
The meaningful point of comparison for both Cleveland utilities is the average 750-kwh bill paid by customers of Ohio's other major private electric companies. i.e. those not owned by First Energy. In March, that average was $62.60 -- 29% less than Cleveland Public Power.