Duke Energy Ohio Complete Guide to Cincinnati Rates, Service Area, and Energy Choice

Duke Energy Ohio is a major electric utility serving approximately 910,000 customers in southwest Ohio, primarily in the greater Cincinnati metropolitan area. Key facts about Duke Energy Ohio:

• Parent company: Duke Energy Corporation (one of America's largest energy holding companies)
• Service territory: Approximately 3,000 square miles
• Regulation: Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO)
• Energy choice: Participates in Ohio Energy Choice program

How Duke Energy Ohio works: Duke Energy delivers electricity through its distribution network but does not generate power for residential customers—it purchases electricity on the wholesale market through regulated auctions. This means you can choose a competitive supplier while Duke Energy handles delivery.

Duke Energy Ohio's service territory covers the southwestern corner of Ohio, centered on the Cincinnati metropolitan area. Counties served:

• Hamilton County: Cincinnati (primary service area)
• Butler County: Hamilton, Middletown
• Warren County: Mason, Lebanon
• Clermont County: Batavia, Milford
• Clinton County: Wilmington and surrounding areas

Additional communities: Georgetown, Bethel, Williamsburg, Loveland, and portions of the tri-state region bordering Kentucky and Indiana. Important rate zone note: Unlike some Ohio utilities, Duke Energy Ohio operates a single rate zone—all residential customers within the territory pay the same Price to Compare rate. 💡 Gas service: Duke Energy also serves natural gas customers in much of the same area, though electricity and gas are billed separately.

The Duke Energy Ohio Price to Compare (PTC) represents the generation portion of your bill when staying with standard utility service. Current rate (late 2025):

• Residential PTC: approximately 10.2 to 10.4 cents per kWh
• Rate changes periodically based on wholesale market conditions

Recent rate history:

• April 2023: 6.44¢/kWh
• January 2024: 9.71¢/kWh (50% increase)
• Early 2025: ~8¢/kWh (temporary drop)
• Mid-2025: Over 10¢/kWh

⚠️ Why rates fluctuate: These changes reflect wholesale electricity market prices, particularly capacity costs in the PJM regional grid. 💡 Before comparing suppliers: Always check your current bill or Duke Energy's website for the most accurate PTC.

Duke Energy Ohio customers have experienced substantial rate increases since 2023, driven primarily by rising wholesale electricity costs. What's driving rate increases:

• PJM capacity market: Ensures adequate power plant availability—saw dramatic price increases affecting all Ohio utilities
• June 2025: Duke's standard service rate increased over 25%, reaching 10.445¢/kWh
• Infrastructure investment: Duke Energy filed for distribution rate increases with PUCO

Infrastructure improvements being funded:

• Grid modernization
• Vegetation management
• Storm hardening

Consumer protection: The Ohio Consumers' Counsel has intervened in rate cases to protect customer interests. 💡 How to protect yourself: While PUCO regulates the process, wholesale costs largely pass through to customers. Competitive suppliers face the same capacity costs but may offer rate stability through fixed-price contracts.

Ohio Energy Choice allows Duke Energy Ohio customers to purchase electricity from competitive suppliers while Duke Energy continues delivering power. How to switch suppliers:

1. Find your current PTC: Check your Duke Energy bill or Duke-Energy.com
2. Compare offers: Use PUCO's Apples to Apples or ElectricRates.org
3. Contact your chosen supplier: They handle the switch for you
4. Wait one billing cycle: Switching typically completes in ~30 days

Why use ElectricRates.org:

• Automatically calculates savings against your current PTC
• Duke Energy customers save an average of $521* per year

What stays the same:

• ✅ Duke Energy handles outages
• ✅ Duke Energy handles meter reading
• ✅ Duke Energy handles billing
• ✅ No switching fees
• ✅ Return to standard service anytime without penalty

💡 Only the generation portion of your bill changes with a competitive supplier.

Many communities in Duke Energy Ohio's service territory offer municipal aggregation programs that negotiate bulk electricity rates for residents. How aggregation works:

• Cities/townships negotiate bulk rates for all residents
• May provide rates below Duke Energy's PTC and individual supplier offers
• Eligible residents are automatically enrolled
• You can opt out to choose your own supplier

Cincinnati area aggregation communities:

• Various Hamilton County municipalities
• Butler County communities
• Warren County townships

💡 Benefits of aggregation:

• Supplier selection handled for you
• Contract negotiation simplified
• Better rates through collective purchasing power

To check participation: Contact your local government to see if your community offers an aggregation program.

Duke Energy Ohio bills include several charge categories. Main charge categories:

• Generation charge: Electricity supply costs—either Duke Energy's PTC or your competitive supplier's rate
• Distribution charges: Power lines, transformers, substations, and grid maintenance
• Customer charge: Fixed monthly fee regardless of usage
• Transmission charges: High-voltage line costs for moving power across PJM regional grid
• Riders: Fund specific programs (renewable energy mandates, energy efficiency initiatives)

Key information on your bill:

• Usage displayed in kilowatt-hours (kWh)
• Enables direct rate comparisons with suppliers

With a competitive supplier:

• Supplier charges replace Duke Energy's generation charge
• Duke Energy still sends combined bill
• Duke Energy maintains your account

Duke Energy Ohio handles all power outages regardless of your electricity supplier choice. How to report an outage:

• Online: Duke-Energy.com
• Mobile app: Duke Energy app
• Phone: 📞 800-543-5599

Outage tracking: Duke Energy maintains an outage map showing affected areas with estimated restoration times. Grid reliability investments:

• Smart grid technology
• Automated switching equipment
• Accelerated vegetation management near power lines

Major storm response: Duke Energy mobilizes crews from across its multi-state service territory for extended outages. 💡 Important: Your supplier choice never affects outage response—Duke Energy line crews respond equally to all customers. 🚨 Emergency: Downed power lines or electrical hazards require immediate reporting for safety prioritization.

Duke Energy Ohio offers programs for customers struggling with bills. Assistance programs:

• PIPP Plus: Caps bills at 6% of household income for qualifying low-income customers
• HEAP: Home Energy Assistance Program—one-time payments through Ohio Development Services Agency
• Share the Light: Duke Energy program accepting donations to help neighbors with emergency assistance

Payment options:

• Budget Billing: Spreads annual costs into predictable monthly payments, eliminating seasonal bill spikes
• Payment extensions: Available by contacting customer service
• Installment arrangements: Available for customers needing flexibility

📞 Customer service: 800-544-6900 Disconnection protections:

• Winter reconnect order: Protects customers from disconnection during extreme cold
• Medical certificates: Disconnection protection for customers with qualifying health conditions

Beyond switching suppliers, Duke Energy Ohio customers can reduce bills through multiple strategies. Duke Energy programs:

• Home energy assessments
• Rebates on efficient appliances
• Weatherization assistance for qualifying households

Energy efficiency tips:

• Smart thermostats: Reduce heating/cooling costs by 10-15%
• LED lighting: Uses 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs
• Air sealing: Seal leaks around windows and doors (especially important in older Cincinnati homes)
• Time-of-use rates: May benefit customers who can shift usage to off-peak hours

Supplier shopping tips:

• Compare offers at least annually—market rates change frequently
• Use PUCO's Apples to Apples tool regularly
• Verify your rate remains competitive against current market offers