What to establish before acting
Energy Choice Ohio provides electric and gas resources, but the two fuels need separate qualification and unit handling. AEP Ohio, AES Ohio, Duke Energy Ohio, and FirstEnergy utility accounts can have different tariffs and billing determinants. Confirm the correct default comparison period and cost scope rather than treating a statewide average as an offer. Existing supply or aggregation commitments can affect the available start and exit options; preserve notices and approvals as part of the record.
Illustrative decision boundary
A hypothetical business receives an aggregation notice while already under an individual supplier contract. It should inspect eligibility and notice terms and ask how the existing commitment is treated. Ignoring either document can create confusion even when a new headline rate looks attractive.
Documents for a useful review
- Utility, rate class, supplier or aggregation status, and existing agreements.
- Electric and gas usage with compatible quote units.
- Current state resources, normalized offers, and enrollment confirmations.
Questions & answers
Does choosing supply replace my Ohio utility?
The delivery utility generally retains its wires, meters, tariff, and outage role. The competitive supplier’s commodity agreement is a separate commercial relationship.
Is an aggregation always the same as brokerage?
No. A group program can have specific participation and opt-out rules. A broker may organize purchasing, but its engagement does not define every government program’s rights.
What should I compare with the utility baseline?
Use matching supply components, dates, usage, fees, and terms. The current posted baseline may change during a longer competitive contract, so future assumptions should be explicit.
Can I assume a gas Ccf price equals a therm price?
No. Volume-to-energy conversion requires applicable heat content and corrections. Compare units and included services before ranking proposals.
How do I verify the switch?
Track the utility’s accepted effective date for each account and reconcile the first service-period invoice. Signature and submission do not prove completed enrollment.
Sources & scope
Primary references reviewed October 15, 2026. These sources support the stated concepts; actual tariffs, program rules and signed agreements govern the account. Decision examples and operational worksheets are original educational analysis.
- Ohio PUCO: About energy choice
Ohio electric and gas supplier choice resources. - Ohio PUCO: Government aggregation
Opt-in/opt-out aggregation; eligibility and terms are program specific. - EIA: Converting natural gas volume and energy prices
Heat-content-dependent conversion of Ccf, Mcf, therms, and MMBtu. - DOE FEMP: Evaluating your utility rate options
Demand, ratchets, time-of-use rates, coincident peaks, and standby charges.