Published June 8, 2018
Energy Choice Ohio (Updated 2019)
A simple guide to navigate the Ohio energy choice program and alternate energy suppliers.
Take Charge of Your Ohio Energy Bills
As any smart energy consumer will tell you, saving money on your energy bills starts with learning how to reduce your energy usage in practical ways. Whether it’s monitoring your thermostat setting depending upon the season, saving your heavy appliance usage until after 6pm, turning off the lights when you leave a room, and everything in between, there are plenty of tips and tricks available to help you pay less on your monthly energy bills.
But what you might not realize is that you can lower your Ohio electricity and natural gas bills simply by taking advantage of the energy choice available in the Buckeye State.
What is Energy Choice?
Energy choice gives you the ability to shop on the open market for the power company that you like most, which typically means the company that offers the best rates and incentives. In fact, Ohio residents have possessed the power to select the energy company that best meets the energy needs for their home for over a decade now.
Before energy choice arrived in Ohio, the local utility company controlled every aspect of the energy industry – generation, transmission, distribution, rate-setting and billing. You had to pay whatever the utility company charged you, which typically meant the rate you paid for your energy changed.
Now, whether your home uses electricity, natural gas, or both, you no longer have to purchase your energy each month from your local utility company. Your utility company still takes care of the lines, poles, and meters, but you no longer have to pay the rates they dictate.
How Do I Choose My Energy Company?
Thanks to the magic of the Internet, you can use your favorite search engine to start investigating the energy companies that serve your area of Ohio. The better companies will have a strong online presence designed to meet the needs of customers in the 21st century. If you like directly comparing and contrasting the offers from several Ohio electricity and natural gas companies in single location, the State of Ohio created Energy Choice Ohio.
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Head to the PUCO's comparison tool www.energychoice.ohio.gov. Also known as Apples to Apples.
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Choose either “Compare Electric Offers” or “Compare Natural Gas Offers”
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Hover over “Residential”, “Small Commercial”, or “Large Commercial/Industrial” and select the name of the local utility company for your area
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Manipulate the various menus and filters to present the information you deem most helpful to making the best possible energy decision for your home
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When you find the offer you like most, click the red “Sign Up” link
How Can Energy Choice Help My Ohio Energy Bills?
While there is no way to guarantee that you will be able to lower your energy bills because of energy choice – your actual energy usage remains the key variable in the equation – Ohio energy choice does place you in the best possible scenario so that can help you better monitor and handle your energy bills. Specifically, when you select a fixed-rate plan from the energy company you think is best for your home, you lock in that specific rate for a set period of time. When you know exactly the rate you pay each bill, you can better set and keep an energy budget for your home, because with that fixed rate, you can be assured that lowering your usage will result in a lower bill.
Thanks to energy choice in Ohio, you have the power to do what’s right for you, your home, and your budget. You can select the electric and natural gas companies that you want on your terms – and if you don’t like them, you can even switch to a new one without any hassle!
To learn more about how Vista Energy can help you take advantage of your Ohio energy choice, please visit our page for both electricity AND natural gas rates.
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