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The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company (C.E.I.) was founded in 1892 as the Cleveland General Electric Co. by Charles F. Brush, a local inventor from Euclid Township. The company established its headquarters in the Cuyahoga Building on Public Square, which housed C.E.I.'s original headquarters from 1894 to 1914. Over the years, C.E.I. underwent several name changes and mergers, facing challenges in the 1970s due to the energy crisis and clashes with consumer and environmental groups. In 1997, it became part of FirstEnergy Corp., a privately-owned electric utility company serving a large customer base across multiple states. Another entity, the Cleveland Electric Company, Inc., is a specialty contractor located in Atlanta, Georgia, founded in 1925 by Ras Cleveland, which has expanded its services over time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founding Date | 1925 |
| Founder | Ras Cleveland |
| Original Location | Downtown Atlanta, near the Georgia Tech Campus |
| Specialization | Electric motor repair |
| Current Headquarters | Northwest Atlanta |
| Current Director | Vann Cleveland |
| Current President | John Cleveland |
| Ranking in 2012 | 6th among specialty contractors in the Southeast United States |
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Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. was founded in 1892
The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company (C.E.I.) was founded in 1892 as the Cleveland General Electric Co. by Charles F. Brush. Just two years later, in 1894, the company changed its name to the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company and established its headquarters in the Cuyahoga Building on Public Square.
The Cuyahoga Building was designed by Daniel Burnham and was the first building in the city with an entirely steel frame. C.E.I. occupied the building until 1914, when it moved its headquarters to the 75 Building on the northwest corner of Public Square. As demand for electrical power increased, C.E.I. once again outgrew its facilities and, in 1956, began construction on its own Illuminating Building next door. The new building offered 17% more space than the previous one, allowing C.E.I. to accommodate its growing business.
Charles F. Brush was a local inventor from Euclid Township who had previously founded the Brush Electric Co. in 1880. In 1879, Brush unveiled an electrical street-lighting system in Public Square, marking a significant step forward in the history of lighting and power in Cleveland.
Over the years, C.E.I. underwent several changes and mergers. In 1974, the company began construction of the Perry Nuclear Power Plant near North Perry, Ohio. The 1970s also saw clashes with consumer groups over rate increases and environmental concerns, as well as a long dispute with the City of Cleveland that resulted in an antitrust suit filed by the city in 1975. In 1986, C.E.I. merged with Toledo Edison to form Centerior Energy, and in 1997, Centerior merged with Ohio Edison and Penn Power to form FirstEnergy, which currently controls the electric system for northern Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
It is worth noting that there is also a company called the Cleveland Electric Company, Inc. based in Atlanta, Georgia. This company was founded in 1925 by Ras Cleveland and specializes in serving Power Generation, Mission Critical, Healthcare, and Industrial customers. However, this company is not directly related to the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. founded in 1892.
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The company's turbulent 1970s
The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company (CEI/C.E.I.*) faced a turbulent time in the 1970s. The energy crisis of the decade witnessed a dramatic rise in coal prices, which, in turn, caused domestic energy costs for consumers to skyrocket. CEI lost a significant number of customers during this period.
The company also clashed with consumer groups over rate increases and faced opposition from environmental groups concerned about the dangers of pollution and nuclear power. CEI's response to the increasing demand for nuclear power in the 1960s was to invest in nuclear power plants in collaboration with Toledo Edison in 1970. In 1974, CEI began constructing the Perry Nuclear Power Plant near North Perry, Ohio. The following year, an antitrust suit was filed against CEI by the City of Cleveland, which the city eventually lost. The dispute arose from the company's long-standing troubled relations with the city's municipal light plant.
In 1976, Brush Arc Lamp on Public Square celebrated its centenary since the debut of Brush's electrical street-lighting system in 1876. Two years later, in 1978, CEI began providing service from the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station in Oak Harbor, Ohio. The company's struggles with rising energy costs and customer loss continued through the 1970s, leading to its eventual merger with Toledo Edison in 1986 to form Centerior Energy.
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CEI's headquarters history
The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company (CEI) was founded in 1892 as the Cleveland General Electric Co. by Charles F. Brush. In 1894, the company adopted its current name and established its headquarters in the Cuyahoga Building on Public Square.
The Cuyahoga Building, designed by Daniel Burnham, was the first building in the city with an entirely steel frame. CEI was a major tenant in this building from 1894 to 1914, after which the building was demolished in 1982 to make way for the BP America building.
In 1913, CEI moved into a new 15-story Illuminating Building at 75 Public Square, which served as its headquarters until 1958. The company had outgrown this space by 1956 and broke ground on a new building right next door at 55 Public Square. In February 1958, CEI moved into its new headquarters at 55 Public Square, which offered 17% more space than the previous building.
During the 1960s and 1970s, CEI faced challenges due to the increasing demand for nuclear power and the widespread energy crisis, which drove up coal prices and domestic energy costs for consumers. In 1975, the City of Cleveland filed an antitrust suit against CEI, which the city eventually lost. To stay afloat, CEI merged with Toledo Edison in 1986 to form Centerior Energy.
In 1997, Centerior Energy combined with Ohio Edison and Penn Power to form FirstEnergy, which is now one of the ten electric utility companies owned by Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp. FirstEnergy controls the electric system for northern Ohio and western Pennsylvania and is headquartered in Akron, Ohio.
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CEI's antitrust violations
The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company (CEI) was founded in 1892 as the Cleveland General Electric Co. by Charles F. Brush. In 1894, the company adopted its current name. Over the next few decades, CEI expanded rapidly, building new generating plants and moving into new headquarters to accommodate its growing customer base. By 1946, the company had 370,000 customers.
During the 1960s, CEI faced pressure to invest in nuclear power plants to meet the increasing demand for nuclear power. In 1970, they began investing in nuclear power plants in collaboration with Toledo Edison. However, the 1970s also witnessed an energy crisis, which drove up coal prices and domestic energy costs for consumers. As a result, CEI lost a significant number of customers. The company also clashed with consumer groups over rate increases and environmental groups over pollution and nuclear power concerns.
In 1975, the City of Cleveland filed an antitrust lawsuit against CEI, alleging issues with the city's municipal light plant. CEI lost the suit. CEI continued to face challenges in the following years, including the need to respond to the energy crisis and competition from other power producers. To stay afloat, CEI merged with Toledo Edison in 1986 to form Centerior Energy.
Antitrust laws, such as the Sherman Act passed in 1890, aim to prevent monopolies, conspiracies, and restraints of trade or commerce. However, some critics argue that antitrust regulations hinder innovation and competition, create economic uncertainty, and restrict the rights of individuals to determine their business dealings. The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), for example, advocates for the abolition of antitrust laws, arguing that they prevent innovation and make it difficult for companies to predict and avoid violations. On the other hand, many politicians and pundits support stronger competition in the marketplace and believe that antitrust laws are necessary to ensure fair competition.
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FirstEnergy's environmental issues
The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company (C.E.I.) was founded in 1892 as the Cleveland General Electric Co. and established its headquarters in the Cuyahoga Building. In 1894, the company adopted the name Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. (CEI).
During the 1970s, CEI faced challenges due to clashes with consumer groups over rate increases and environmentalists concerned about pollution and nuclear power. In response to the increasing demand for nuclear power in the 1960s, CEI began investing in nuclear power plants in collaboration with Toledo Edison. The 1970s energy crisis led to a significant loss of customers for CEI due to skyrocketing domestic energy costs. To survive, CEI merged with Toledo Edison in 1986 to form Centerior Energy. In 1997, Centerior Energy combined with other companies to form FirstEnergy Corp.
FirstEnergy, the current owner of CEI, has expressed its commitment to environmental sustainability and climate change issues. The company has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and is taking steps to reduce its environmental impact, comply with regulations, and promote employee education and community engagement on environmental matters. FirstEnergy's Environmental group focuses on issues such as waste management and reducing infrastructure-related risks to avian species. The company also engages in initiatives like tree planting and pollinator garden sustainability programs.
FirstEnergy has developed research-driven policies to support the transition to a more sustainable energy landscape and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The company's CEO and senior executives have performance-linked compensation structures that include climate change performance as a Key Performance Indicator (KPI). FirstEnergy is also allowed by the USEPA to dispose of PCB Remediation Waste in non-TSCA-approved landfill facilities.
Overall, FirstEnergy recognises the importance of environmental sustainability and is taking steps to improve its environmental performance and contribute to a brighter future for the communities it serves.
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Frequently asked questions
The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company (C.E.I.) was founded in 1892 as the Cleveland General Electric Co. by Charles F. Brush.
The C.E.I. moved into the Cuyahoga Building in 1894 and stayed there until 1914.
In 1997, the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company merged with Ohio Edison and Penn Power to form FirstEnergy.
