Ohio · electricity shopping guide
Ohio Apples to Apples: how to actually use PUCO's comparison tool
Last reviewed: June 29, 2026 · Independent — no supplier commissions, ever.
Ohio's Apples to Apples tool — run by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) at energychoice.ohio.gov — shows every licensed electricity supplier's current rate side-by-side with your utility's default Standard Service Offer (SSO). It's free, it takes about two minutes, and it's the only honest way to answer the question everyone gets wrong: is a supplier offer actually cheaper than what I'm already paying?
Here's what the tool doesn't tell you — and what we checked before writing this.
Who we are and how we make money
RateWatchdog is an independent consumer resource — we track Ohio utility rate filings, PUCO data, and PJM capacity auction results. We take no commissions from electricity suppliers and we don't enroll anyone in anything. If we recommend the tool at energychoice.ohio.gov, it's because it's the right answer, not because someone paid us to say so.
Current Ohio utility Standard Service Offer rates (June 2026)
Before you open the Apples to Apples tool, you need to know your utility's current SSO — that's the benchmark any supplier offer has to beat. Here are all six Ohio utility rates in one place. AEP Ohio has the lowest default rate at 10.12¢/kWh; AES Ohio has the highest at 10.86¢/kWh.
| Ohio utility | Service area | SSO rate (supply only) |
|---|---|---|
| AEP Ohio | Columbus area, central & southern OH | 10.12¢/kWh |
| Ohio Edison | Akron, Youngstown, NE Ohio | 10.83¢/kWh |
| Duke Energy Ohio | Cincinnati metro, SW Ohio | 10.7¢/kWh |
| AES Ohio | Dayton, Montgomery County area | 10.86¢/kWh |
| The Illuminating Co. | Cleveland, Cuyahoga County area | 10.83¢/kWh |
| Toledo Edison | Toledo, NW Ohio | 10.22¢/kWh |
Source: PUCO Apples to Apples (energychoice.ohio.gov) — supply-only SSO rates, June 2026. Delivery charges (~5–6¢/kWh) are additional. Verify current rates before acting.
How to use Ohio's Apples to Apples tool: 4 steps
The tool is straightforward once you know what to look for. Here's the exact process.
- 1
Go to energychoice.ohio.gov and select your utility
The PUCO tool asks which electric distribution utility serves your address — AEP Ohio, Ohio Edison, Duke Energy Ohio, AES Ohio, The Illuminating Company, or Toledo Edison. If you're not sure which one serves you, it's the company name on your electric bill.
- 2
Note your utility's current Standard Service Offer (SSO)
The SSO is displayed at the top of the results table. That's the baseline you're comparing against — your current default rate if you've never switched suppliers. If you don't know your current supplier, check your bill: look for a line item labeled 'electric generation supplier' or 'supply.' If it says your utility's name, you're on the SSO.
- 3
Read supplier offers carefully — look for three things
Rate type (fixed vs. variable — variable rates can spike mid-contract), contract length (how long the rate is locked), and cancellation fee (what it costs to leave early). A fixed-rate offer below the SSO with no cancellation fee and a 12-month minimum is the clearest apples-to-apples win. Variable-rate and teaser-rate offers deserve extra skepticism.
- 4
Do the math before you switch
Multiply the savings per kWh by your average monthly usage (in kWh, shown on your bill). If you use 800 kWh/month and a supplier is 0.50¢ cheaper than the SSO, that's $4/month — $48/year. Weigh that against any contract risk. If the savings are under $5/month, the risk of a rate reset usually isn't worth it.
The thing the Apples to Apples tool won't tell you
The tool shows you today's supplier offers vs. today's SSO. What it doesn't show is that the SSO itself has changed dramatically — and many Ohioans on supplier contracts signed before 2024 are now paying more than the default rate, not less.
Here's what happened: before July 2024, Ohio's default supply rates were running in the 5–8¢/kWh range. Supplier offers of 9–10¢ on a 3-year fixed contract looked expensive. Many people passed. Then the PJM capacity auction cleared at $269.92/MW-day in 2024 — roughly 9× the prior year — pushing all six Ohio utility SSO rates to the 10–11¢ range starting June 2025. Now those "expensive" fixed contracts look cheap, and anyone who bought a 3-year fixed at 9¢ in 2022 is beating the current SSO by almost two cents.
The lesson: check your current supplier rate first. If you're on a supplier and haven't looked at your bill in a while, find the supply line item and compare it to your utility's current SSO in the table above. If your supplier rate is above the SSO, you can usually return to the default within one or two billing cycles — no penalty in most cases.
When switching suppliers in Ohio actually makes sense
Ohio deregulation gives you a genuine choice. The question is whether any current offer is worth taking. After the 2025 PJM capacity spike pushed SSO rates to 10–11¢, the spread between the cheapest fixed supplier offers and the SSO has narrowed considerably. Here's the honest checklist:
- ✓
The offer is fixed-rate for at least 12 months
Variable-rate offers can move with the PJM market. After the 2024–25 capacity spike, a variable rate that started below SSO could end up above it within months.
- ✓
The per-kWh rate is genuinely below your current SSO
Use the table above. For AEP Ohio customers the bar is 10.12¢ — for AES Ohio customers it's 10.86¢. Those are different targets.
- ✓
There's no monthly fee or per-billing-period surcharge
A $5/month 'service fee' on top of a 9.5¢ rate eliminates the savings for anyone using under 600 kWh/month.
- ✓
The cancellation fee is zero or tolerable
A $50–100 early-termination fee isn't a dealbreaker — but it means you're committing. If the SSO drops (possible if PJM capacity prices fall), you'd pay to leave.
- ✓
You've verified the offer on the official PUCO Apples to Apples tool
Door-to-door and telemarketing offers aren't always in the PUCO database. Any offer that can't be verified at energychoice.ohio.gov should be treated with heavy skepticism.
Off-peak electricity hours in Ohio
Ohio's standard residential SSO rates are flat — your per-kWh supply charge is the same at 2 PM on a Tuesday as at 2 AM on a Sunday. There are no built-in off-peak discounts on the default rate.
However, all major Ohio utilities offer optional time-of-use (TOU) rate programs for residential customers with smart meters. Under a TOU plan, you pay a higher rate during on-peak hours (typically weekday afternoons, roughly 2–8 PM in summer) and a significantly lower rate off-peak (evenings, overnight, and weekends). Off-peak hours generally run from 9 PM to 7 AM on weekdays, plus all day on weekends and major holidays.
Who benefits most: EV owners who can charge overnight, households with programmable thermostats that pre-cool before peak hours, and anyone who can shift laundry and dishwasher use to evenings or weekends. A TOU customer who moves 40% of their usage to off-peak can cut their supply costs by 20–30% compared to the flat SSO.
To enroll in TOU: AEP Ohio — aepohio.com · Ohio Edison / FirstEnergy — firstenergycorp.com · Duke Energy Ohio — duke-energy.com
If your bill is high and you can't afford to wait for a good offer
Shopping is a supply-side fix — it saves a few cents per kWh at best. If your bill has jumped $30–50/month and you need help now, these Ohio programs don't require switching suppliers:
-
HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program)
Ohio's federally funded one-time utility bill payment for income-qualified households. Apply through your county Community Action Agency or at energyhelp.ohio.gov. Available fall and winter; summer crisis assistance also available.
-
PIPP Plus (Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus)
Ohio's ongoing income-based program caps your monthly utility payment at a percentage of your household income — regardless of how much power you use. After 12 on-time payments, a portion of your arrears is forgiven. Enrollment through your county CAA.
-
Budget Billing
All six Ohio utilities offer budget billing — averaging your annual usage into equal monthly payments to eliminate summer/winter spikes. It's not a discount, but it prevents the $250 July surprise.
See the full guide: Ohio electric bill help programs →
Frequently asked questions
- What is Ohio's Apples to Apples electricity comparison tool?
- Apples to Apples is a free, government-run electricity comparison tool operated by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) at energychoice.ohio.gov. It lists every certified retail electric supplier (CRES) licensed to serve your Ohio utility's territory, shows their current offer in cents per kWh, and displays it side-by-side with your utility's default Standard Service Offer (SSO). The name comes from the standardized display format — every offer is shown on the same terms so you can compare them without decoding fine print.
- Who has the cheapest electricity rates in Ohio?
- Among Ohio's six electric distribution utilities, AEP Ohio has the lowest Standard Service Offer (SSO) at 10.12¢/kWh (June 2026), followed by Toledo Edison at 10.22¢/kWh. AES Ohio (Dayton) has the highest at 10.86¢/kWh. For competitive supplier rates, check PUCO's Apples to Apples tool at energychoice.ohio.gov — offers below your utility's current SSO represent real supply savings if they're fixed for the full term.
- What are the off-peak hours for electricity in Ohio?
- Ohio's standard residential Standard Service Offer (SSO) rates are flat — there are no built-in off-peak hours on the default rate. However, AEP Ohio, Ohio Edison (FirstEnergy), and Duke Energy Ohio all offer optional time-of-use (TOU) programs for customers with smart meters. Off-peak hours typically run 9 PM–7 AM on weekdays, plus all day on weekends and holidays. Contact your utility directly or visit their website to enroll — TOU rates can cut your supply cost by 30–50% if you can shift EV charging and laundry to overnight hours.
- What are off-peak hours for AEP Ohio?
- AEP Ohio's standard Price to Compare is a flat rate with no time-of-day variation. AEP Ohio does offer opt-in time-of-use programs for customers with smart meters. Under TOU, off-peak hours typically run overnight (roughly 9 PM–7 AM) and all day on weekends. Visit aepohio.com or call AEP Ohio to ask about current TOU enrollment in your area — it's most useful if you have an EV or can run your dishwasher and laundry overnight.
- Is Dynegy cheaper than Ohio Edison?
- It depends on Dynegy's current offer and Ohio Edison's current Standard Service Offer (SSO). Ohio Edison's SSO is 10.83¢/kWh as of June 2026. The only accurate comparison is the current offer on PUCO's Apples to Apples tool at energychoice.ohio.gov — that's where licensed Ohio suppliers including Dynegy post their live rates. A supplier offer below 10.83¢ with a fixed rate and no cancellation fee beats Ohio Edison's default.
- Are Ohio Edison rates going up in 2026?
- Ohio Edison's Standard Service Offer rose about 13% in June 2026, driven by higher PJM capacity market costs — the regional grid's annual auction for backup power reserves cleared at $269.92/MW-day in 2024 and $329.17/MW-day in 2025 (the FERC price cap). Ohio Edison passes supply costs through to customers with no markup. A separate three-year distribution rate plan (TYRP) pending at PUCO would add roughly $4.26/month per year through 2028 on the delivery side.
- Why are Ohio electric bills going up?
- The primary driver is the PJM capacity market — the regional auction that reserves backup power for the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest grid. In July 2024, the PJM 2025/2026 capacity auction cleared at $269.92/MW-day, roughly 9× the prior year's $28.92. The July 2025 auction cleared at $329.17/MW-day, the FERC-approved price cap. Ohio utilities (AEP Ohio, Ohio Edison, Duke Energy Ohio, AES Ohio, The Illuminating Company, Toledo Edison) all pass these capacity costs through to customers in their Standard Service Offer — the increase is a commodity market event, not utility profit.
- What is the Ohio electricity rate for 2026?
- Ohio's six electric distribution utilities each set their own Standard Service Offer (SSO) through the PUCO. As of June 2026: AEP Ohio 10.12¢/kWh, Toledo Edison 10.22¢/kWh, Duke Energy Ohio 10.70¢/kWh, Ohio Edison 10.83¢/kWh, The Illuminating Company 10.83¢/kWh, AES Ohio 10.86¢/kWh. These are supply-only rates — your full bill adds delivery charges. Verify current rates at PUCO's Apples to Apples tool: energychoice.ohio.gov.
- What is the energy choice program in Ohio?
- Ohio's Energy Choice program, administered by PUCO, lets residential and small-business customers choose a certified retail electric supplier (CRES) for the generation (supply) portion of their electricity bill. Your utility (AEP Ohio, Ohio Edison, Duke Energy Ohio, etc.) continues to handle delivery, outage response, and billing. The choice is voluntary — customers who don't shop remain on their utility's default Standard Service Offer. Ohio deregulated its electricity market in 1999.
- What is the average electric bill for two people in Ohio?
- A two-person Ohio household typically uses 700–850 kWh per month. At the current average Ohio SSO of about 10.5¢/kWh for supply, plus delivery charges of roughly 5–6¢/kWh, the total effective rate runs about 15–17¢/kWh all-in. That puts a two-person Ohio household's monthly bill in the range of $105–$145 (ESTIMATE). The Ohio EIA statewide average bill was $118/month in 2024. Actual bills vary by utility, usage, season, and whether you're on a supplier contract.
Ohio utility pages on RateWatchdog
Each page has the utility's current SSO, active rate cases, reliability data, and bill assistance programs.