Ohio Power Companies: Compare Rates in 2026

A homeowner in Akron opened her July 2026 electric bill and noticed two separate line items: one for delivery, one for supply. The delivery charge, she figured out, was fixed. The supply charge was not. Her utility was billing her about 11 cents per kilowatt-hour for supply, but a neighbor down the street had switched suppliers and was paying closer to 8 cents. Same wires, same poles, same outage crew. Different supply rate.

That split, delivery versus supply, is the essential fact about electricity in Ohio. The state deregulated its retail electric market in 1999, which means most Ohio households can choose who generates and sells them power. The utility still owns the grid and keeps the lights on after storms. But the supply piece is open to competition, and that competition can mean real savings.

This guide covers every major ohio power company operating in the state, their current default rates, and how the shopping process actually works.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) regulates the state's electric utilities. It sets the rules for how utilities price and deliver power, handles complaints, and oversees the competitive retail market. When you shop for electricity in Ohio, you are shopping for the supply portion of your bill only. The utility, whichever one serves your address, always handles delivery.

If you do nothing, your utility supplies your power through its Standard Service Offer (SSO). The cost of that default supply shows up on your bill as the Price to Compare. That number is the benchmark. Any competitive supplier rate you find should be measured against it.

The state's official comparison tool is Energy Choice Ohio, run by the PUCO. It lists every licensed competitive supplier serving each utility territory, with rates, contract terms, and fees displayed side by side. Think of it as a structured marketplace where the rules of disclosure are set by the regulator.

Ohio has six investor-owned utilities that between them cover nearly the entire state. Where you live determines which one owns the lines to your home.

AEP Ohio is the largest utility in the state by customer count, serving a wide swath of central, southern, and eastern Ohio. Its default supply rate as of August 2026 is approximately 11.0 cents per kWh.

Duke Energy Ohio serves the Cincinnati metro area and surrounding southwest Ohio counties. Its default supply rate is approximately 10.7 cents per kWh, the lowest among the six utilities as of August 2026.

AES Ohio (formerly Dayton Power and Light) covers the Dayton region. Its default supply rate is approximately 10.9 cents per kWh.

Ohio Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy, serves northeast Ohio including the Akron, Canton, and Youngstown areas. Its default supply rate is approximately 10.9 cents per kWh.

The Illuminating Company, also a FirstEnergy subsidiary, serves the Cleveland area. Its default supply rate is approximately 11.2 cents per kWh, the highest in the state as of August 2026.

Toledo Edison, the third FirstEnergy subsidiary in Ohio, covers the Toledo area and northwestern Ohio. Its default supply rate is approximately 11.1 cents per kWh.

Those six numbers are the baseline. They represent what you pay if you never make a choice. Visit our Ohio electricity page to see live competitive rates in your territory.

As of August 2026, the lowest competitive supplier rate available anywhere in Ohio is approximately 7.6 cents per kWh. The highest utility default rate in the state is 11.2 cents. That spread, roughly 3.5 cents per kilowatt-hour, matters at scale.

A household using 1,000 kWh per month at 11.2 cents pays about $112 for supply alone. The same usage at 7.6 cents comes to $76. Over twelve months, the difference is around $432. Larger homes, those running central air conditioning through Ohio summers, use considerably more.

Not every competitive offer beats the default rate. Some are fixed-rate contracts at a small premium to the Price to Compare, which makes sense for customers who want price stability. Others are variable-rate plans that can shift month to month. The comparison is always against that Price to Compare line on the bill, and it changes periodically, so the gap between default and competitive rates is not constant.

Rates vary by utility territory, and what is available in Cleveland may not be offered in Cincinnati. Always filter Energy Choice Ohio or ElectricRates.org by your specific utility to get an accurate comparison.

Switching suppliers in Ohio is a paper process that takes effect on the next billing cycle. No one comes to your home. No service is interrupted. The utility continues to own and operate the delivery infrastructure regardless of who supplies your power.

Here is the basic sequence. First, find your current Price to Compare on your electric bill, usually listed on the first or second page. Second, visit Energy Choice Ohio (puco.ohio.gov) or ElectricRates.org and filter by your utility territory. Third, compare offers, paying attention to whether the rate is fixed or variable, whether there is an early termination fee, and the length of the contract term. Fourth, enroll directly with the competitive supplier you choose. They notify your utility, and the switch takes effect automatically.

If you ever want to return to default supply, you can do so by contacting your current supplier or your utility. Some contracts carry early termination fees, so check the terms before signing.

Rate shopping is one lever. For households with limited income, Ohio also has two significant assistance programs worth knowing.

PIPP Plus (Percentage of Income Payment Plan) is administered through Ohio's electric utilities and caps monthly electric payments at a percentage of household income. Eligible customers build a credit toward their balance over time. Enrollment and eligibility details are available through the PUCO or directly through each utility.

HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) is a federally funded program that provides one-time bill credits to qualifying low-income households, typically applied during the heating season but with a summer cooling component as well. It is administered by the Ohio Development Services Agency.

Neither program depends on which supplier you have chosen. They operate on the utility account, not the supply contract. If you believe your household might qualify, contact your utility's customer service line or check the Ohio Development Services Agency website for current eligibility thresholds and application windows, since those figures can change year to year.

The six investor-owned utilities cover most of Ohio, but not all of it. Roughly two dozen municipalities operate their own electric systems, and several electric cooperatives serve rural areas.

Municipal utilities include systems in cities like Columbus (Columbus City Light, separate from AEP Ohio distribution), Hamilton, Westerville, and others. These are owned by local governments and are generally not subject to PUCO retail competition rules the same way investor-owned utilities are. Customers of municipal systems typically cannot shop for competitive supply through Energy Choice Ohio.

Electric cooperatives, such as Buckeye Power's member cooperatives, serve scattered rural territories. Like municipal utilities, their retail competition rules differ from those that apply to the six major investor-owned utilities.

If you are unsure which type of utility serves your address, your electric bill will identify it. Customers of investor-owned utilities will see a Price to Compare on their bill, which is the signal that competitive shopping is an option.

A few patterns come up repeatedly among Ohio customers who regret a supplier switch.

Ignoring the contract term. A low introductory rate on a 24-month contract can reset to something much higher after the promotional period. Read the full offer details on Energy Choice Ohio before enrolling.

Confusing variable and fixed rates. Variable rates can drop below fixed rates in some months and spike well above them in others. Customers who want predictability should look for a fixed-rate offer.

Not rechecking the Price to Compare. Utility default rates adjust periodically. A competitive deal that was five cents below the default last year might be only one cent below it today, or even above it. The comparison is always current Price to Compare versus current supplier rate.

Signing up through door-to-door solicitations without verifying. Legitimate suppliers are listed on Energy Choice Ohio. Any offer that does not appear there, or any salesperson who pressures you to sign on the spot, deserves extra scrutiny. PUCO accepts complaints about supplier conduct.

For live competitive rates sorted by territory, check ElectricRates.org. For the official licensed supplier list and complaint history, Energy Choice Ohio is the authoritative source.

Ohio's deregulated market gives most residents a choice that most states do not offer. The six major utilities, AEP Ohio, Duke Energy Ohio, AES Ohio, Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company, and Toledo Edison, each set a default supply rate that serves as the floor for comparison. As of August 2026, those rates range from 10.7 to 11.2 cents per kWh. Competitive suppliers are offering rates as low as 7.6 cents in some territories.

The PUCO's Energy Choice Ohio platform makes the comparison reasonably straightforward. The main work is finding your Price to Compare on your current bill and then filtering offers by your utility territory. A fixed-rate contract from a licensed competitive supplier, chosen carefully and checked against the current Price to Compare, is where most households find savings.

The market changes. Supplier rates move, default rates adjust, and new offers appear. Checking ElectricRates.org periodically takes less than five minutes and keeps the comparison current.