Deregulated Energy in Ohio: Compare Electricity, Internet & Home Services
Last updated September 25, 2026 · Price to Compare and supplier offers read directly from PUCO’s Apples to Apples Ohio charts on that date.
Apples to Apples Ohio is the state’s official electricity and gas comparison chart, published by PUCO at energychoice.ohio.gov. It shows every certified supplier enrolling customers in your utility’s territory next to your utility’s Price to Compare — the rate you pay if you do nothing. In September 2026 that benchmark ranged from 10.69¢ to 11.16¢ per kWh depending on your utility, and the best fixed offers on the chart beat it by 23% to 30%.
Comparing deregulated energy Ohio suppliers is key to saving on your electricity and gas bills in one of the most competitive energy markets in the US. 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 โ AEP Ohio, FirstEnergy (Ohio Edison, Toledo Edison, The Illuminating Company), or Duke Energy Ohio โ 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 โ 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 โ 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.
Apples to Apples Ohio: what PUCO’s chart actually shows
Apples to Apples Ohio is the electricity and natural gas comparison chart published by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) at energychoice.ohio.gov. It lists every supplier currently enrolling new customers in your utility’s territory side by side, with the price per kWh, the rate type, the contract term, the early termination fee and the monthly fee. It is free, it is run by the state, and it does not sell your information.
What the Apples to Apples Ohio chart does not do is tell you which offer is good. That is the gap this page fills. On September 25, 2026 we read all six residential Apples to Apples Ohio charts and counted 858 live offers across the state. Everything below comes from that pull.
Definition: the Price to Compare
Your Price to Compare (PTC) is the per-kWh supply rate your utility charges if you never shop. It is printed on your bill and at the top of every Apples to Apples Ohio chart. It is the only number that matters when you judge an offer: a supplier rate below your PTC saves money, a rate above it costs money. The PTC covers generation and transmission only — delivery charges stay with your utility no matter who supplies your power.
Ohio Price to Compare by utility, September 2026
Ohio has six electric distribution utilities and each sets its own Price to Compare. Where you live decides your benchmark before you shop at all.
| Utility | Price to Compare | Offers listed | Best fixed offer | Rate period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Energy Ohio | 10.69¢ | 158 | 7.99¢ | Sep 1 – Sep 30, 2026 |
| AES Ohio | 10.86¢ | 123 | 8.39¢ | Jun 1, 2026 – May 31, 2027 |
| Ohio Edison | 10.92¢ | 140 | 7.87¢ | Jul 1 – Sep 30, 2026 |
| AEP Ohio | 10.97¢ | 153 | 8.39¢ | Jul 1 – Sep 30, 2026 |
| Toledo Edison | 11.10¢ | 143 | 7.87¢ | Jul 1 – Sep 30, 2026 |
| The Illuminating Company | 11.16¢ | 141 | 7.87¢ | Jul 1 – Sep 30, 2026 |
The spread between the cheapest and most expensive Price to Compare in Ohio is 4.4% — 10.69¢ in Duke’s territory against 11.16¢ in The Illuminating Company’s. That gap is decided entirely by which utility’s wires reach your house.
A timing note that matters right now: the AEP Ohio, Duke Energy Ohio and all three FirstEnergy price-to-compare periods end September 30, 2026. New rates take effect October 1. If you are reading this in October or later, re-check your own Apples to Apples Ohio chart before acting on any figure here — including ours.
What 858 live offers reveal about shopping in Ohio
Three patterns came out of reading every offer on the Apples to Apples Ohio charts in one sitting. None of them is visible if you only look at your own territory.
1. The cheapest advertised price is a variable rate in all six territories
In every Ohio utility territory the lowest number on the Apples to Apples Ohio chart belongs to a variable-rate plan — 6.89¢ in the three FirstEnergy territories, 6.99¢ at Duke, 7.39¢ at AEP and AES. Those rates undercut the best fixed offer by roughly half a cent to a full cent.
A variable rate can change every month. The teaser holds for a billing cycle or two, then floats. Sorting the Apples to Apples Ohio chart by price and taking the top row is the most common way Ohio shoppers lose money.
2. Variable rates also produce the worst prices on the chart
The same rate type that sits at the top of the list also sits at the bottom of the Apples to Apples Ohio chart. In Duke Energy Ohio’s territory variable offers ran from 6.99¢ to 34.07¢ — a 4.9x spread inside one rate type. At AEP Ohio the variable range was 7.39¢ to 19.70¢.
Only 75 of the 858 offers we counted were variable. They account for both extremes of the Apples to Apples Ohio market.
3. A good fixed offer beats the utility by 23% to 30%
The honest version of the savings pitch uses the best fixed rate, not the best headline rate. Measured that way, shopping works:
| Utility | Best fixed vs PTC | Saving per kWh | Saving at 1,000 kWh/mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Illuminating Company | 29.5% below | 3.29¢ | $395 a year |
| Toledo Edison | 29.1% below | 3.23¢ | $388 a year |
| Ohio Edison | 27.9% below | 3.05¢ | $366 a year |
| Duke Energy Ohio | 25.3% below | 2.70¢ | $324 a year |
| AEP Ohio | 23.5% below | 2.58¢ | $310 a year |
| AES Ohio | 22.7% below | 2.47¢ | $296 a year |
The trap at the other end of the Apples to Apples Ohio chart
Shopping badly is worse than not shopping. The most expensive fixed offer in AES Ohio’s territory was 35.99¢ against a 10.86¢ Price to Compare — more than three times the rate that customer would pay by doing nothing. AEP Ohio’s worst fixed offer ran 45.9% above its PTC, Duke’s 53.3% above.
These are not errors. They are legal, certified offers sitting on the state’s own Apples to Apples Ohio chart, and someone signs them. The Apples to Apples Ohio chart is a list, not a recommendation.
How to read an offer in sixty seconds
Five columns on the Apples to Apples Ohio chart decide whether an offer is worth taking. Check them in this order:
- Rate type. Fixed or variable. If it says variable, stop unless you actively want to track the market.
- Price per kWh against your Price to Compare. Below it, keep reading. At or above it, move on.
- Term length. A 6-month fixed rate means you shop again in six months. A 24-month rate locks the saving in.
- Early termination fee. Commonly $0 to $50 in Ohio. A fee is acceptable on a long fixed term, less so on a short one.
- Monthly fee. A flat monthly charge quietly raises a low per-kWh rate, and it hurts small users most.
One more habit worth building: check the introductory-price column. An offer flagged as an intro price is telling you the number you are comparing is temporary.
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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 โ 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
- โก Electricity (CRES switch): Beat your utility’s Price to Compare โ save $15โ$30/month ($180โ$360/year)
- ๐ฅ Natural gas (competitive supplier): Fixed rate through Columbia Gas or Dominion โ save $10โ$20/month in heating season
- ๐ Internet: Switch to AT&T Fiber or Metronet from expired cable promo โ save $20โ$40/month
- ๐ Home security: Compare Vivint vs ADT โ save $10โ$25/month
Total potential annual savings for an Ohio household: $450โ$900+
Apples to Apples Ohio for businesses
PUCO publishes three separate electric charts, not one: Residential, Small Commercial and Large Commercial / Industrial. That is a real advantage Ohio has over Texas, whose state shopping site is effectively residential-only. If you run a business in Ohio there is an Apples to Apples Ohio chart for your rate class.
Which Apples to Apples Ohio chart applies depends on your utility’s rate code rather than your company size. AEP Ohio uses GS-1 and GS-2, Duke Energy Ohio uses DS and DM, the three FirstEnergy utilities use GS and GP, and AES Ohio uses Secondary. Your rate code is printed on your bill.
Ohio businesses already pay well below the national average. Commercial power in Ohio runs 10.66¢ per kWh against a 12.75¢ US commercial average, while Ohio households pay 15.99¢. An Ohio business pays about 33% less per kWh than an Ohio home — and the national gap is only 23%.
Where the small-commercial Apples to Apples Ohio chart stops being useful is at scale. Once a business has meaningful load, suppliers stop quoting from a rate card and price off your actual interval data: twelve months of usage from your meter, your load factor, and the forward curve on the day you sign. Two identical storefronts on the same street can get different numbers. A published Apples to Apples Ohio chart cannot show you that price, which is why larger accounts are quoted rather than shopped.
If you are comparing multi-site or multi-state supply, our commercial electricity rates by state breakdown shows where Ohio sits against the other retail-choice markets.
Compare business electricity at your address
Commercial contracts are priced off your meter and 12 months of usage, not a published rate card.
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 โ 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 1โ2 billing cycles. Your electricity is never interrupted during the transition โ only the supply charge line on your bill changes when the new supplier takes effect.
Is Apples to Apples Ohio run by the state?
Yes. Apples to Apples Ohio is published by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio at energychoice.ohio.gov. Suppliers must be certified by PUCO to appear, and they are responsible for the accuracy of their own listings. It is a state-run list of offers, not an endorsement of any of them.
Why is the cheapest rate on the Apples to Apples Ohio chart usually a bad deal?
Because in all six Ohio utility territories the lowest advertised price is a variable rate. Variable rates can move every month after a short introductory period, and the same rate type produced the highest prices on the chart — up to 34.07¢ in Duke Energy Ohio’s territory against a 10.69¢ Price to Compare. Compare fixed rates against your Price to Compare instead.
How much can shopping actually save an Ohio household?
Measured against the September 2026 Price to Compare, the best fixed offer in each territory ran 22.7% to 29.5% below the utility rate. At a flat 1,000 kWh a month that is roughly $296 to $395 a year on the supply portion of the bill. Delivery charges do not change when you switch suppliers.
Sources
- Public Utilities Commission of Ohio — Energy Choice Ohio / Apples to Apples. Residential electric charts for all six utility territories, read September 25, 2026.
- U.S. Energy Information Administration — Electric Sales, Revenue, and Average Price, Table 4, 2024 data released October 7, 2025 (Ohio and US average retail price by sector).
- Public Utilities Commission of Ohio — puco.ohio.gov, standard service offer and consumer protection rules.
Rates on the Apples to Apples Ohio charts change daily and suppliers are responsible for their own listings. Every figure on this page was read from PUCO’s charts on September 25, 2026 and is shown with its rate period. Confirm against your own Apples to Apples Ohio chart and your own bill before you enroll.
Related Ohio Energy and Internet Guides
๐ Best Electricity Providers in Ohio 2026: Compare Rates and Switch
๐ Best Internet Providers in Columbus Ohio 2026
๐ Internet Choice in Deregulated Energy States: Complete Bundling Guide
๐ Compare Ohio deregulated energy, internet, and home services at Utility Search Marketplace
Compare internet, energy & home security at your address