Compare Electricity Rates in Ohio

Choosing your electricity provider can save you money, but there are risks. According to a report by Ohioans, since 2011, the state’s liberalized energy market has saved them about $3 billion a year on their energy bills. study by researchers from Ohio State University and Cleveland State University.

The law, passed in 2001, gives most Ohioans the ability to shop around for energy providers. (You’re still stuck with the utility company that’s local to your city.) This choice has driven down prices from both utilities and third-party energy providers compared to states without deregulation, the researchers found.

“Competition has driven down average electricity prices in the deregulated Midwestern states (Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois), while their regulated peers (Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin) have seen steady increases in the price of generated electricity,” they wrote. “Ratepayers in these regulated states are saddled with the costs of aging, uneconomical power plants, while competitive markets in the deregulated states have encouraged investment in new efficient and cost-effective generation and access to broader multistate markets for generated electricity.”

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While deregulation has saved Ohioans a lot of money, it has also brought risks. There are reports of unscrupulous companies that onboard customers with competitive rates, only to significantly increase prices when their contracts expire. Suppliers may also have high termination fees or other charges that are not apparent when you sign up. That’s why it’s essential to study the details of contracts and watch out for hidden fees.

Buy Electricity in Ohio

The table below shows the current price to compare your utility’s standard rate with the price range of the options available through Choose Energywhich is owned by the same parent company as CNET.

We help you find the best electricity rates in your area

All rates shown are accurate as of June 4, 2024, for the ZIP codes listed with each utility. CNET staff updates these rates periodically, but they may have changed since the last update. For the most up-to-date rate information in your area, enter your ZIP code at choosenergy.comThese rates only cover delivery charges, not utility delivery charges or any taxes.

Deregulation in Ohio: What Does It Mean?

Deregulation is a big policy word for how the energy market is structured. What that means is that you have a choice in your energy supplier.

“Deregulation ensures that Ohioans have the opportunity to shop around for the best deal in the energy market,” said Nolan Rutschillingdirector of energy policy at Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund“So while a few large companies own and operate the electricity grid, there are a large number of suppliers that sell power into that grid.”

There are a few nuances to the law that you should be aware of. First, Ohioans who live in areas served by municipal utilities or rural cooperatives — about 6% to 7% of the state, according to Rutschilling — are not eligible to shop for energy providers, though they can still benefit from the increased competition it has created.

Another is the aggregation of community choices, particularly in the state’s largest city, Columbus.

“If a local government has adopted an initiative to set up what’s called community choice aggregation, they can negotiate on behalf of their residents a fixed price and a plan for the residents of that municipality,” Rutschilling said. “The residents of that municipality are then automatically enrolled in that plan, but have the ability to leave at any time.”

Ohio Utility Company vs. Electricity Provider

Ohio is served by four major utilities. These are:

• FirstEnergy — The Illuminating Company, Toledo Edison and Ohio Edison, which serve much of northern Ohio, including Cleveland;
• American Electric Power, which primarily serves central and eastern Ohio, including Columbus;
• AES Ohio, also known as Dayton Power & Light, covers the western part of the state; and
• Duke Energy Ohio, operating in the southwestern part of the state, including Cincinnati.

You cannot switch to another energy supplier, but you can look for another energy supplier.

What types of electricity plans are offered in Ohio?

You can shop for your energy supplier, but you don’t have to if you don’t want to. Here are your options.

Stick to your utility

If you decide that you do not want to shop with another energy supplier, you will be assigned to the energy supplier’s subscription by default. This is a so-called standard service offer.

“Each of the electric distribution companies has what they call a standard service offering or default rate,” Rutschilling said. “So if you live in Cleveland and you sign up for FirstEnergy, you’re automatically defaulted to the standard service offering, where the rates are variable. People aren’t locked into a fixed rate in Ohio.”

Look around the energy market

If you prefer to find another company to supply your electricity, you can compare different rates on the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio website. Comparing apples to apples website. Once you choose your utility, you will be presented with a table of different energy supplier offers that can be sorted by price, tariff type, renewable content (Ohioans have access (for nuclear, wind, hydro, solar and biomass), duration, costs and promotional offers.

How to Find the Best Electricity Rates in Ohio?

On the PUCO website, “You can sort and search by a number of different categories, including rate — dollars per kilowatt hour, which is a great way to find the lowest rates,” Rutschilling said. “People should also look at other considerations, like, is the rate fixed? Is it variable? Is there a monthly fee? Is there an early termination fee if you want to leave? That website pretty much has all the factors you want to consider, including renewable energy content.”

What to Consider When Choosing an Electricity Plan in Ohio?

On the PUCO website you can easily view different offers and find a plan that suits you.

“My recommendation would be to look at fixed rates, and pay attention to any costs and just factor that into your decision making,” Rutschilling said. “Also, from the Ohio Environmental Council perspective, we recommend looking at renewable content as well, because it’s a great way to make sure your energy is coming from a cleaner source. Often times, renewable energy will have a fixed price associated with it, although it depends on the market and what’s being offered.”

How to make the transition in Ohio

Making the switch is easy in Ohio. With your energy bill information in hand, simply visit the PUCO marketplace, choose a supplier, and click To register button. Be sure to save any confirmation numbers and other details. Your new plan price should appear within a billing cycle or two.

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