AEP Ohio Complete Guide to Rates, Service Area, and Energy Choice Options

What is AEP Ohio?

AEP Ohio is the largest electric utility in Ohio, serving approximately 1.5 million customers across 61 counties in central and southern Ohio. Key facts:

Subsidiary of American Electric Power (AEP) – one of America's largest utilities
Delivers electricity but does not generate power – purchases on wholesale market
Regulated by Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO)

Major cities served:

Columbus
Newark
Marion
Lancaster
Chillicothe
Portsmouth

💡 AEP Ohio must provide reliable service to all customers regardless of supplier choice.

AEP Ohio Service Territories and Rate Zones

AEP Ohio operates two service territories that were historically separate companies: Historical rate zones:

Ohio Power Company: Southern and eastern Ohio
Columbus Southern Power: Columbus metropolitan area

These merged under AEP Ohio but maintained separate rate zones for billing purposes. Good news: Residential customers in both zones now pay the same Price to Compare rates after PUCO-approved rate harmonization. Your rate zone appears on your bill but should not affect supplier comparison decisions. Counties served:

Franklin County
Delaware County
Fairfield County
Licking County
Dozens of rural counties extending to Ohio River (WV/KY border)

AEP Ohio Current Rates - Price to Compare Explained

The AEP Ohio Price to Compare (PTC) represents the generation portion of your bill when staying with standard utility service. Current rate (October-December 2025):

Residential Price to Compare: ~9.8¢/kWh
Reflects wholesale electricity costs + auction procurement charges
Changes quarterly based on wholesale market conditions

Recent rate history:

2024: ~36% increase from previous rates
Primary driver: 833% increase in PJM capacity market costs

How to use PTC:

Only consider supplier offers below the current PTC for immediate savings
Delivery charges remain the same (~4-5¢/kWh additional) regardless of supplier

Why AEP Ohio Rates Increased - Understanding Capacity Costs

AEP Ohio customers saw dramatic rate increases beginning in 2024, with some bills rising 30-40% compared to previous years. Primary driver – PJM capacity market:

Determines how much utilities pay for adequate power plant capacity
2024-2025 auction cleared at $269.92 per megawatt-day
That's an 833% increase from the previous year

What caused the spike:

Power plant retirements
Increased data center demand
Transmission constraints

AEP Ohio passes these wholesale costs directly to customers through the generation portion of bills. What this means for you:

PUCO monitors but cannot control wholesale market outcomes
Competitive suppliers face the same capacity costs
Fixed-price contracts can offer rate stability

AEP Ohio Energy Choice - How to Switch Suppliers

Ohio Energy Choice allows AEP Ohio customers to purchase electricity generation from competitive suppliers while AEP Ohio continues delivering power and maintaining the grid. How to switch suppliers:

Find your current Price to Compare on your AEP Ohio bill or at AEP Ohio's website
Compare rates through PUCO Apples to Apples or ElectricRates.org
Contact your chosen supplier directly to enroll (AEP Ohio cannot enroll you)

ElectricRates.org benefits:

Automatically calculates savings against current Price to Compare
AEP Ohio customers save an average of $521*/year

Key details:

Switching takes ~1 billing cycle (30 days)
Return to AEP Ohio standard service anytime without penalty

Clean Energy Columbus - Municipal Aggregation Program

Clean Energy Columbus is the City of Columbus municipal electric aggregation program, offering residents an alternative to individual supplier shopping. How it works:

Automatically enrolls eligible AEP Ohio customers within Columbus city limits
Competitively-bid electricity supply contract
Letters mailed before enrollment with 21-day opt-out window

Current rates (late 2024):

~9.08¢/kWh for 100% renewable energy
Below AEP Ohio's Price to Compare
Sourced from wind and solar projects

Benefits:

Reduce your carbon footprint without premium pricing
Opt out anytime to choose your own supplier
Return to AEP Ohio standard service whenever you want

Understanding Your AEP Ohio Bill

AEP Ohio bills contain multiple charges that affect your total cost. Main charge categories:

Generation charge: Electricity supply – affected by supplier choice or Price to Compare
Delivery charges: Power lines, transformers, meters, grid maintenance – stay with AEP Ohio regardless of supplier
Distribution charge: Based on your usage
Customer charge: Fixed monthly fee
Riders and adjustments: Grid improvements, renewable energy mandates, regulatory programs

Key info:

Bill shows usage in kilowatt-hours (kWh) for direct comparison with supplier offers
With a competitive supplier: their charges replace generation portion
AEP Ohio still sends combined bill and maintains your account

AEP Ohio Power Outages and Service Reliability

AEP Ohio handles all power outages regardless of your electricity supplier. How to report outages:

Online at AEPOhio.com
AEP Ohio mobile app
Call 1-800-672-2231

AEP Ohio reliability:

Outage map shows affected areas and estimated restoration times
Invests $1+ billion annually in grid modernization
Smart meters, automated switches, vegetation management
Service reliability exceeds 99.9% for most customers

Extended outages: AEP Ohio may provide bill credits under PUCO rules. 💡 Switching suppliers never affects outage response – AEP Ohio line crews respond equally fast to all customers. 🚨 Emergency: Report downed power lines and safety hazards immediately – AEP Ohio prioritizes these.

AEP Ohio Payment Assistance and Programs

AEP Ohio offers multiple programs for customers struggling with bills. Assistance programs:

PIPP Plus: Caps bills at 6% of household income for qualifying low-income customers
HEAP: One-time bill payment assistance through Ohio Development Services Agency
Neighbor-to-Neighbor: Allows customers to donate to help others

Payment options:

Budget Billing: Spreads annual costs into equal monthly payments (prevents seasonal spikes)
Payment extensions: Available by calling customer service
Installment plans: Available by calling customer service

Disconnection protections:

No disconnection during extreme weather (PUCO winter/summer rules)
Medical certificates: Protect customers with serious health conditions for up to 30 days

Tips for Saving on Your AEP Ohio Bill

Beyond supplier shopping, AEP Ohio customers can reduce bills through efficiency programs. AEP Ohio programs:

Home energy audits
Rebates on efficient appliances
Weatherization assistance for qualifying customers

Energy efficiency tips:

Smart thermostats: Reduce heating/cooling costs by 10-15%
LED lighting: Uses 75% less energy than incandescent
Power strips: Prevent phantom energy drain
Time-of-use rates: May benefit customers who can shift to off-peak hours

Columbus residents: Combine Clean Energy Columbus aggregation with efficiency measures for maximum savings. Supplier shopping tips:

Compare suppliers annually even if satisfied – market rates change
Use PUCO's Apples to Apples at least twice per year

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current AEP Ohio Price to Compare?

As of October-December 2025, the AEP Ohio residential Price to Compare is approximately 9.8 cents per kWh. This rate changes quarterly based on wholesale market conditions. Check AEPOhio.com or your bill for the most current rate before comparing suppliers.

Why did my AEP Ohio bill increase so much in 2024?

AEP Ohio rates increased approximately 36% due to an 833% spike in PJM capacity market costs. The capacity market ensures adequate power plant availability, and costs rose due to plant retirements, increased demand from data centers, and transmission constraints. These wholesale costs pass directly to customers.

Can I switch electricity suppliers with AEP Ohio?

Yes. Ohio Energy Choice allows you to purchase electricity from competitive suppliers while AEP Ohio continues delivering power. Use PUCO's Apples to Apples tool to compare offers, then contact your chosen supplier to enroll. Switching takes about one billing cycle with no fees from AEP Ohio.

What is Clean Energy Columbus?

Clean Energy Columbus is the City of Columbus municipal aggregation program that automatically enrolls eligible residents into a competitively-bid electricity supply contract. It currently offers 100% renewable energy at rates below AEP Ohio's Price to Compare. You can opt out anytime.

Does switching suppliers affect my power reliability?

No. AEP Ohio continues delivering electricity and responding to outages regardless of your supplier choice. Only the generation (supply) portion of your bill changes. Delivery charges, power lines, and emergency response remain with AEP Ohio.

How do I report an AEP Ohio power outage?

Report outages online at AEPOhio.com, through the AEP Ohio mobile app, or by calling 1-800-672-2231. The outage map shows affected areas and estimated restoration times. For emergencies like downed power lines, call immediately and keep away from the hazard.

About the author

Enri Zhulati

Consumer Advocate

Enri has spent years helping Texans navigate the deregulated electricity market at ComparePower. He knows what confuses people about energy shopping and what actually helps them save. At ElectricRates.org, he brings that same expertise to Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.

Electricity deregulationOhio Energy ChoicePennsylvania Power SwitchMassachusetts competitive suppliersPUCO regulations

Topics covered

AEP Ohio Columbus electricity Ohio Energy Choice Price to Compare Clean Energy Columbus PUCO Ohio utilities

Sources & References

AEP Ohio - About Us (AEP Ohio): "AEP Ohio serves 1.5 million customers across Ohio"Accessed Jan 2025
PUCO - Electric Utility Rate Cases (Public Utilities Commission of Ohio): "PUCO regulates AEP Ohio delivery rates and oversees Standard Service Offer auctions"Accessed Jan 2025
PJM Interconnection - Capacity Market Results (PJM Interconnection): "PJM capacity market costs increased 833% affecting Ohio utility rates"Accessed Jan 2025

Last updated: December 10, 2025