Ohio residents and businesses have had the power to choose their electricity suppliers since 2001. Shop for the lowest kilowatt-hour rates from more than 100 third-party electricity suppliers, buying groups and government aggregators in the Buckeye State, each offering a variety of energy plans to compare.
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Ohio introduced Senate Bill 3 — better known as the Ohio Electric Restructuring Act — in 1999, passing it into law in 2001 and ushering in the restructuring of the state’s electric industry that allows consumers and businesses to purchase their electricity directly from suppliers.
Today, energy in the Buckeye State is delivered through a system of third-party service suppliers, certified retail energy suppliers, co-ops, consumer groups, government aggregators and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio that work together to get electricity from power plants to your front door.
PUCO is the regulatory authority of Ohio’s utilities that supply electricity, natural gas, water and telecoms. It was established in 1911 to address concerns in the railroad industry. Today, its mission is to “assure all residential and business consumers access to adequate, safe and reliable utility services at fair prices” and “relaxing regulation” where needed to support competition.
Electric utilities generate and supply the electricity that powers homes and businesses. The six utilities in Ohio cover a specific territory.
| Electric utility | Assigned territory |
| AEP Ohio | Serves 1.5 million residents in central, southeast and northwest Ohio in two rate zones
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| AES Ohio | Serves 527,000 customers across 24 counties Western Central Ohio
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| Duke Energy | Serves 840,000 customers in parts of southwest Ohio counties
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| The Illuminating Company | Serves 700,000 customers in northeast Ohio
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| Ohio Edison | Serves more than 1 million customers in northeast and north central Ohio
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| Toledo Edison | Serves more than 300,000 customers in northwest Ohio
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Buckeye Power is a locally managed, member-owned nonprofit that serves more than 380,000 homes and businesses. All who join the cooperatives become members of the national network Touchstone Energy, which works on behalf of member-owners in more than 45 states.
Buckeye Power manages 25 electric cooperatives that serve 77 of Ohio’s 88 counties:
Some 15 retail energy suppliers certified by PUCO transmit and deliver electricity to homes and businesses in the state, among them:
Ohio law allows for groups of customers and organizations to form consumer buying groups to purchase electricity at stronger terms and lower rates than doing it alone. These groups can extend services to benefit their members, like analyzing energy use and streamlining billing.
The law also allows for cities, counties, townships and villages to form municipal buying groups called government aggregators. PUCO certifies these aggregators to bundle the electric load used by the group for the lowest rates on electricity or natural gas.
The law also requires the aggregator to develop plans that are circulated to residents through public hearings. Additional requirements depend on how a resident signs up for the aggregator:
Current member communities receive a 100% renewable energy supply through the AEP Energy Eco-Advantage Program:
You’re already enrolled in the program if your electricity bill shows your generation supplier as AEP Energy.
Most electricity suppliers in Ohio offer renewable or clean energy plans that come from natural sources or replenished processes, like wind, hydro or solar energy.
You have two ways to find the lowest electricity rates: compare certified retail energy providers (CREPs) or join a buying group or government aggregator.
You have the option of choosing among multiple retail electric providers and energy plans to find the best fit to power your home or business. But first, you’ll want to know your average electricity use.
Before joining a group or aggregator in Ohio, learn about the goals, requirements and billing details required for members:
Energy Choice is the state-operated energy shopping website managed by the Public Utility Commission of Ohio. You can learn about your rights under deregulation as well as file a complaint against third-party suppliers on the site. With Apples to Apples, you can see energy comparison charts for residential, small commercial and industrial addresses.
You can choose from many third-party electricity suppliers, buying groups and government aggregators in Ohio, each offering different rates and energy plans. Factors to weigh when researching your options come down to rates and the type of plan that fits your electricity needs and budget.
Suppliers, groups and aggregators in Ohio offer the choice of fixed, variable or hybrid kilowatt-hour rates:
For variable rates, ask your potential provider if it limits how much rates can fluctuate, which can help you keep costs manageable.
Many electricity suppliers offer lower advertised rates or bonuses to entice new customers. These bonuses can be reflected as a lump-sum savings or percentage knocked off the standard rate.
Introductory rates can last the first quarter of your contract, for six months or even the full term. Read the fine print of any offer to understand the rate you’ll pay after the bonus and avoid overpaying for your energy in the long term.
Understand the contract system of any supplier, group or aggregator you’re interested in. Look at available terms, how the supplier or group handles renewals and whether you can cancel before your contract ends.
Your electricity bills include home energy costs that can vary by supplier, group or aggregator.
If you choose an alternative energy option, your energy bill may include fees associated with the renewables you choose.
After you’ve found an electricity supplier, buying group or government aggregator that fits your energy needs, gather up a current monthly bill and get ready for the big switch.
Energy suppliers in the Buckeye State highlight the financial benefits of electricity choice, further advertising the benefits to the environment through renewable energy.
Results of deregulation are mixed, and there’s research to suggest that it doesn’t lead to the savings it promises over the regulated market. There’s also the potential for suppliers to lure customers into plans without transparency around the risks.
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