Ohio has three major investor-owned electric utilities: AEP Ohio (Columbus + central Ohio), Duke Energy Ohio (Cincinnati metro), and FirstEnergy (Cleveland, Akron, Toledo). Each utility files its own price-to-compare (PTC) with PUCO and offers a different supplier-choice marketplace. 2026 PTCs are AEP 12.4 cents per kWh, Duke 11.9, FirstEnergy 13.1. The 1.2-cent spread reflects different procurement costs and capacity zones. Switching to a competitive supplier across all three saves 8 to 18 percent.
The three Ohio utilities and their territories
AEP Ohio is the largest investor-owned utility in the state, serving Columbus and surrounding counties. Duke Energy Ohio serves Cincinnati and Hamilton County. FirstEnergy serves Cleveland (Illuminating Company), Akron (Ohio Edison), and Toledo (Toledo Edison).
Each utility files its tariff with PUCO. The PTC for each is published quarterly and represents the rate to beat when shopping suppliers. Switching to a CRES supplier changes only the supply line; delivery and capacity charges remain the utility tariff.
The 1.2-cent rate spread explained
FirstEnergy PTC runs highest at 13.1 cents per kWh because of higher procurement costs and capacity charges in the northern PJM zone. AEP at 12.4 cents reflects central Ohio capacity pricing.
Duke at 11.9 cents benefits from southwest Ohio's MISO-adjacent grid location and lower transmission costs. The spread changes slowly across years as PJM and MISO capacity auctions clear.
How to switch on each utility
The PUCO Apples-to-Apples site (energychoice.ohio.gov) lists all CRES suppliers and current offers for every utility territory. Filter by your zip code, sort by 12-month locked rate, then read the contract terms.
All three utilities accept supplier-choice enrollment online. The switch takes 5 minutes; the new rate takes effect at your next meter read.
Lock the rate before the next reset.
Seenra runs the supplier shortlist in 5 minutes. No credit pull, no on-site visit, no service interruption. Forever free for households.
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