Ohio is one of the most fully deregulated energy states in the country, giving residents the right to choose both their electricity supplier and their natural gas supplier. Whether you live in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Akron, Dayton, or Toledo, you are not locked into your utility’s default rate. Ohio deregulated energy shopping has been available since 1999, yet millions of Ohio households are still paying the utility’s standard Price to Compare. This page covers how Ohio energy deregulation works, which electricity and gas suppliers are available in 2026, and how to bundle additional savings on internet and home security.

How Ohio Deregulated Energy Works

Ohio deregulated its electricity market in 1999 under the Electric Restructuring Act. Your local electric utility — AEP Ohio, FirstEnergy (Ohio Edison, Toledo Edison, The Illuminating Company), or Duke Energy Ohio — continues to own the power lines, handle outages, and deliver electricity to your home. What you can shop is the Competitive Retail Electric Service (CRES) provider — the company that supplies the electricity itself and charges the generation portion of your bill.

AEP Ohio Territory

AEP Ohio serves Columbus, Dayton, and much of central and southern Ohio. It is one of the larger utility service territories in the state and has strong CRES supplier competition. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) sets the Price to Compare for AEP Ohio quarterly — any CRES provider offering below this rate saves you real money every month.

FirstEnergy Territory (Ohio Edison, Toledo Edison, Illuminating Company)

FirstEnergy operates three Ohio utilities. Ohio Edison serves northeast Ohio including Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Youngstown, and Lorain. Toledo Edison serves Toledo and northwest Ohio. The Illuminating Company serves Cleveland metro’s inner ring. All three territories have CRES competition and their own PUCO Price to Compare values, updated quarterly.

Duke Energy Ohio Territory

Duke Energy Ohio serves Cincinnati and southwest Ohio. This territory is fully open to CRES supplier competition, though the selection of competing suppliers tends to be smaller than the AEP Ohio or FirstEnergy markets. National suppliers like Constellation and Direct Energy are reliably available in the Duke Energy Ohio territory.

Top Electricity Suppliers in Ohio for 2026

Constellation Energy

Constellation is available across all major Ohio utility territories and is one of the most established CRES providers in the state. They offer fixed-rate plans in 6, 12, and 24-month terms, renewable energy options, and combined electricity and gas supply for Ohio households that want to consolidate both services. Constellation is a strong choice for Ohio residents who value stability and transparent pricing from a nationally recognized supplier.

IGS Energy

IGS Energy is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, and is one of the most established local energy suppliers in the state. They serve both electricity and natural gas customers across Ohio, making them an ideal choice for residents who want to consolidate both supply accounts with a single Ohio-based supplier. IGS is particularly competitive for gas supply in the Columbia Gas of Ohio territory.

Direct Energy

Direct Energy is available across AEP Ohio and FirstEnergy territories and frequently offers competitive fixed rates in the northeast Ohio market. Their 12-month fixed plans are popular with Ohio households, and their enrollment process is fully online and straightforward.

Spark Energy

Spark Energy offers fixed-rate electricity plans in the FirstEnergy (Ohio Edison) territory — covering Cleveland, Akron, and northeast Ohio. They tend to be competitive on mid-term fixed plans and have a clean pricing structure without complicated bill credits or base charges that can obscure the true effective rate.

Ohio Natural Gas Deregulation: Shop Your Gas Supplier Too

Ohio natural gas supply is also fully deregulated through Columbia Gas of Ohio and Dominion Energy Ohio. Most Ohio homes rely on natural gas for heating, making Ohio natural gas deregulation one of the highest-value shopping opportunities in the state. Companies like IGS Energy, Constellation, and XOOM Energy all offer competitive fixed-rate gas supply plans for Ohio households. Locking in a fixed gas rate before October is particularly valuable given Ohio winters.

Ohio Internet Providers: Compare by City

Columbus Internet Providers

Columbus has a strong and improving internet market. Xfinity provides the widest cable coverage across the city and suburbs. AT&T Fiber is expanding in Columbus neighborhoods and suburban communities like Dublin, Westerville, and Grove City. Metronet, a regional fiber ISP, is expanding in Ohio and offers competitive gigabit pricing with strong customer service. T-Mobile Home Internet provides a no-contract 5G alternative across the Columbus metro. See our full Columbus internet provider guide for 2026 details.

Cleveland, Akron, and Northeast Ohio Internet

Xfinity dominates cable coverage in northeast Ohio. AT&T has some fiber availability in the Cleveland metro area. Spectrum serves parts of northeast Ohio. T-Mobile Home Internet and Starlink provide wireless alternatives, particularly in more rural northeast Ohio communities.

Cincinnati Internet Providers

Cincinnati benefits from particularly strong local internet competition. Cincinnati Bell (now Altafiber) offers a strong local fiber network in the Cincinnati metro. Spectrum and Xfinity also serve the area. The combination of multiple strong ISPs makes Cincinnati one of Ohio’s best internet markets.

Home Security in Ohio: Vivint and ADT

Vivint and ADT both operate across Ohio with professional monitoring and installation. Vivint’s smart thermostat integration is valuable in Ohio, where both electricity and natural gas costs are significant household expenses. A Vivint smart thermostat paired with a competitive CRES electricity plan and a fixed-rate gas supplier can reduce consumption on both energy services, compounding your annual savings significantly.

Ohio Bundle Savings Estimate

  • ⚡ Electricity (CRES switch): Beat your utility’s Price to Compare — save $15–$30/month ($180–$360/year)
  • 🔥 Natural gas (competitive supplier): Fixed rate through Columbia Gas or Dominion — save $10–$20/month in heating season
  • 🌐 Internet: Switch to AT&T Fiber or Metronet from expired cable promo — save $20–$40/month
  • 🔐 Home security: Compare Vivint vs ADT — save $10–$25/month

Total potential annual savings for an Ohio household: $450–$900+

Frequently Asked Questions: Ohio Deregulated Energy

How do I find the current Price to Compare in Ohio?

The PUCO updates the Price to Compare for each Ohio utility quarterly. Visit puco.ohio.gov and navigate to the electric choice section, or check your most recent electric bill — it is often printed directly on the bill. Any CRES provider offering a rate below the current PTC is saving you money on the supply portion of your bill.

Can I switch electricity suppliers in Ohio if I rent?

Yes, if the electric account is in your name. Ohio renters whose electricity is billed directly to them have the same access to CRES supplier shopping as homeowners. If electricity is included in your rent, your landlord controls the account.

How long does an Ohio electricity switch take?

Enrollment with a new CRES provider takes under 10 minutes online. The switch processes through your utility within 1–2 billing cycles. Your electricity is never interrupted during the transition — only the supply charge line on your bill changes when the new supplier takes effect.

Related Ohio Energy and Internet Guides

📖 Best Electricity Providers in Ohio 2026: Compare Rates and Switch

📖 Best Internet Providers in Columbus Ohio 2026

📖 Internet Choice in Deregulated Energy States: Complete Bundling Guide

👉 Compare Ohio deregulated energy, internet, and home services at Utility Search Marketplace