With electric choice in Ohio, you may be able to choose the electric supplier that provides the generation of your electricity. If you choose a new electric supplier, your local electric utility will continue to deliver the electricity to your home, and you should continue to call your local electric utility if your power goes out.
Electric suppliers must be certified by the PUCO before they can sell electricity to residential customers. Certification is an ongoing, thorough process to make sure each supplier is qualified to provide electricity in Ohio.
Before learning about how to choose your supplier on your own, you should also know about governmental aggregation in case your area chooses to aggregate. In Ohio, local communities are allowed, by law, to join their citizens together to buy electricity as a group and on the group’s behalf, negotiate the terms, conditions, and price of the electric supply. These groups can result in "buying power" and a lower rate for the group members.
Most governmental aggregation programs are “opt-out” programs which automatically enroll all local residents, unless they individually and actively opt-out of the program (choose not to be included). A local government can only do this if a majority of the voters approved the issue in a previous election. If your community is aggregating, you will want to learn more about how this program affects you and your choices. For more information, call the PUCO at (800) 686-PUCO (7826).
If suppliers are available in your area, it's easy to switch. Just follow these simple steps
To find out if a supplier is offering a lower price than your current electric utility, compare the supplier's generation price (the total price per kilowatt hour) to the “price to compare” found on your current electric bill. The PUCO’s Apples to Apples rate comparison charts, available at www.PUCO.ohio.gov, offer information to help you compare the details about each supplier's offer. Only you can decide which supplier is best for you. You may simply want the lowest price, or you may want to consider special add-on offers, what source is used to generate the electricity, contract terms, or the reputation of the supplier.
Contact the suppliers that you are most interested in, and ask the questions listed below. Once you have decided on a supplier, contact that supplier directly to confirm the offer and learn how to sign up. You do not need to call your local electric utility.
Most electric suppliers will ask you to sign a contract. The supplier may provide you with a contract in person or by mail. You also may be able to sign up by telephone or on the Internet. Before signing any contract, make sure you read and understand all the terms and conditions such as how long you will have to buy electricity from the supplier, what types of fees there are, and how you will be billed. Only give out your account number when you are ready to sign.
After you sign up, your new supplier will contact your current utility for you. Your utility will then mail you a confirmation. You have seven days from the postmark date on the confirmation to cancel the contract if you change your mind.
No matter what you choose, the PUCO will continue to protect and enforce your rights. If you feel that your rights have been violated, call the PUCO call center at (800) 686-PUCO (7826).