How Ohio Energy Ratings Compares Rates, Apples to Apples (Updated October 2026)
We analyze, rank, and recommend the best electric and natural gas plansfrom the highest rated providers.
PUCO Apples to Apples: What they aren't telling Ohioans
When Ohio deregulated its electric and natural gas markets in the late 1990s, Ohio residents were free to shop and choose their own Ohio electricity and natural gas suppliers. The Public Utility Commission of Ohio (PUCO) set up the Energy Choice Ohio website to help customers shop for electricity and natural gas suppliers and save money
Ohio energy customers have since discovered that there's a lot more to choosing the right energy provider than just picking the cheapest price.
What's Wrong with Energy Choice Ohio?
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) requires Ohio energy marketers to list their electric and natural gas offers on this site. This way, Energy Choice Ohio works as neutral agent showing all providers equally, without favoring one over another.
Yet, while that impartial mission is important, the problem with the Energy Choice Ohio web site is that any licensed electricity or natural gas provider in the state can place offers there. Consumers see them all, regardless of reputation, customer service complaints, PUCO violations, or BBB rating.
Are there companies who exploit Energy Choice Ohio users?
There are suppliers whose only source of customers is the PUCO Apples to Apples website. They tempt you with a low rate knowing that their plans will jack up your bill with unfair fees and hidden charges designed to boost their profits! And if you try to talk to them, they skimp on customer service, keeping you on hold until you just hang up and pay your bill to keep your lights and heat on.
This is bad for everyone - except for the questionable companies who rely on this PUCO web site to help them pitch their 'bait and switch' scam to unsuspecting consumers just like you.
This is where Ohio Energy Ratings comes in.
Compare Our Electricity Rates, Apples to Apples
Ohio Commercial Electricity Rates
Why is Ohio Energy Ratings a better comparison site than Energy Choice Ohio?
Using Energy Choice Ohio is like going to the grocery store to buy apples from a HUGE bin. There's all kinds in there and Energy Choice Ohio only provides basic links and little detail about the electricity and natural gas plans on their site. That means the customer has to compare them -- apples to apples -- all by themselves. For that reason, most consumers don't know whether they're biting into a sweet deal or a rotten one until they sign up.
Ohio Energy Ratings informs customers by providing ratings, real customer reviews, side by side comparisons, and detailed plan analysis. We help customers learn what to look out for, how to compare rates, how to shop plans, and how to pick the best plan that fits their needs.
Are the prices on Ohio Energy Choice too good to be true?
It depends. . .customers really can find a great deal on electricity and natural gas at Ohio Energy Choice -- but they have to do ALL the comparison work themselves! And to compare all those plans really well, they need to read lots and lots of plans.
Most folks don't read the fine print when they shop for energy plans and that's a pity. You can tell a lot about an energy supplier from their fine print.
Let's say you see a 3-month plan at Energy Choice Ohio. No other plan can touch that price so you sign up without a second thought. But did you see anything anywhere on the Energy Choice Ohio site about what could happen when your initial contract term ends? Some providers stipulate that when your initial contract term ends you'll "roll over" to a rate that is 3 to 6 times higher. That's all spelled out in their fine print.
Energy Choice Ohio doesn't flag that kind of stuff. We do.
Compare Our Natural Gas Rates, Apples to Apples
Compare the Best Energy Providers in Ohio
We don't just partner with anyone. We comb through the fine print in energy plans to learn what customers can expect from a provider. We also inform customers which plans are great deals and which ones may need a second look. After all, the more information you have, the better you can compare the energy plans that providers offer.
Now, we're not saying Ohio customers shouldn't shop for energy providers on their own. We're saying you don't have to.
We want electricity customers to use our site knowing that we've looked at the suppliers and the plans, and only suggest those that measure up to our standards of providing fair value to Ohio's consumers.
Our Apples to Apples Natural Gas Rates
Shop Real Apples to Apples Comparisons at Ohio Energy Ratings
How do we do it? Ohio Energy Ratings ranks companies based on over 50 different ranking criteria, such as call answer times, affordability, plan complexity, and social media engagement. We also use multiple independent data sources from thousands of customer reviews, complaint statistics, company standings with the Better Business Bureau, and available third party financial data.
To make sure you get a great energy provider AND a great rate, we've reviewed hundreds of electricity and natural gas plans and combined them with our ratings, so you can quickly compare both price and quality at the same time in all of Ohio's cities and towns!
Enter your zip code and start finding the best Ohio energy plans for your home! Shopping for a business? Compare business electricity plans and bussiness natural gas rates in Ohio
Compare Business Electricity Rates, Apples to Apples
When customers rate, everyone wins!
Check out customer reviews for some popular energy companies:
Ohio Apples to Apples FAQs
What is Ohio's Apples to Apples chart?
Apples to Apples is a comparison chart produced by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) on its Energy Choice Ohio website. It lists current electricity and natural gas offers from certified suppliers and aggregators that are actively enrolling customers in each utility area. Offers appear in random order, suppliers are responsible for the accuracy of their own listings and offers can change at any time.
How is Ohio Energy Ratings different from PUCO's Apples to Apples chart?
PUCO's chart lists offers, but leaves the evaluation to you. Ohio Energy Ratings adds the research: provider ratings, real customer reviews, side-by-side plan comparisons and analysis of each plan's fine print. That includes flagging terms the chart doesn't highlight, such as monthly fees or what rate a plan rolls over to when the contract ends, so you can weigh price and provider quality together.
How do I compare energy offers apples to apples?
Compare every offer on the same basis: the price per kWh for electricity or per ccf or Mcf for natural gas, whether the rate is fixed or variable, the contract length, any monthly fees, early termination fees and what happens when the contract ends. Then compare each offer with your utility's default rate, the Price to Compare for electricity or the Standard Choice Offer for natural gas, which you'll find on your bill.
How does Ohio Energy Ratings rate energy providers?
We rank providers on more than 50 criteria, including call answer times, affordability and plan complexity. Our ratings draw on thousands of customer reviews, complaint statistics, Better Business Bureau standing and available third-party financial data, then combine with our plan reviews so you can compare price and quality at the same time.
Can every Ohio customer switch energy suppliers?
Most can, with a few exceptions. Customers enrolled in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP Plus) aren't eligible to switch to an alternate supplier. If you're already under contract with a supplier, switching before your contract ends may come with an early termination fee, so check your current terms first.
Does the Apples to Apples chart work for businesses?
PUCO designed the chart for residential and small commercial customers. Businesses with higher usage often receive pricing based on their own usage and contract needs rather than a published rate. As a licensed Ohio energy broker, Ohio Energy Ratings can help your business request quotes for business electricity rates and business natural gas rates.
Can I cancel a new energy plan after signing up?
Yes. After you enroll, your utility sends a confirmation notice. Residential and small commercial customers have seven calendar days from the postmark date to cancel a new electricity plan, and seven business days to cancel a new natural gas plan. To cancel, contact your utility, not the supplier.
Can Ohio Energy Ratings tell me when better rates are available?
Yes. Sign up for price alerts with your zip code and email, choose electricity or natural gas, and we'll notify you when better energy prices become available in your area. It's an easy way to keep an eye on rates as your current contract nears its end.
