The overall score for Public Power is 3.05. Their best category was Market Perception where they earned a score of 3.65, while their worst rating came in at 1.00 in Community. More detailed information on these ratings is available on our Public Power Rating Detail page.
Rating Overall
3.05
Communications
2.97
Market Perception
3.65
Operations
2.68
Products
2.45
What People Are Asking About Public Power
Ohio electricity deregulation, and Retail Electricity Providers can be complicated.
To answer your frequently asked questions about Public Power read on.
What is the cheapest electricity plan that Public Power has?
The cheapest Public Power plan is Electric 6 Month Standard Fixed Rate with a rate starting at 9.59¢ per kWh. Customers of Public Power can expect their average bill to fall around $96 per month on this plan.
This plan's early termination fee is $0. This is a 6 month plan.
Avoid rising Duke and AES Ohio supply rates in Cincinnati and Dayton! Save on keeping cool this summer when you shop cheap electric rates.
Summer is always one of the most expensive times of the year. Home cooling costs and this year's hotter-than-normal summer have already led to rising bills. However, it may get worse with a PTC rate hike right around the corner. But how much will electricity rates rise and how can you save money this summer? Let's take a look at why AES and Duke PTC Rates may jump this month.
How High Will PTC Rate Jump
Starting June 1, Ohio utilities factored in the PJM capacity auction prices to their rates. This meant their default electric prices rose just in time for summer heat. AES Ohio customers saw their rates rise by .0087 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 9.45 cents per kWh. Meanwhile, Duke Energy residential customers saw their PTC rates by 2.5 cents per kWh to 10.45 cents per kWh. This means a monthly supply charge of about $94.50 (AES) and $104.50 (Duke) for 1000 kWh of use.
Most of Ohio's power comes burning natural gas. While Ohio does produce natural gas, natural gas prices are higher this year. Due higher energy demand and slackening production, natural gas rates are expected to keep rising in 2026. Similarly, Duke has also rolled out a new electric security plan (ESP) that will see their customer's bills rise by an estimated $8.41 by May 31, 2028 for 1000 kWh of power.
Compare AES To Cheapest Electricity Rates
On the upside, these rate jumps only PTC customers. So, if you shop the competitive electricity suppliers now, you can lock in some great savings.
AES Ohio customers may want to check out Public Power and their Electric 12 Month Fixed Rate With MRC plan. This plan charges a rate of 7.69 cents per kWh. Under this plan, the supply charge is about $20 less than AES Ohio, just $76.90 for 1000 kWh.
Meanwhile, the Energy Harbor Safe Harbor Value 12 plan helps you support clean energy. The plan brings carbon-free power into your home for 9.09 cents per kWh. That's a supply charge of $90.90 (almost $4 less than AES). On top of this, our readers rank Energy Harbor as having silver level customer service.
Beat Duke Electricity Rates
Duke Energy customers can save with the Public Power Electric 12 Month Fixed Rate With MRC plan. At 7.99 cents per kWh, that's about $80 a month for 1000 kWh). This beats the Duke Energy PTC rate by over $24.
You may also consider Major Energyand their Secure Choice 12 plan. This plan has a rate of 9.19 cents per kWh. That equals a supply charge of about $92 for 1000 kWh, roughly $12 cheaper than Duke. On top of that, you can find more savings by taking advantage of the discounts from their rewards program.
Save With Cheapest Ohio Rates
By now, both AES and Duke customers are facing PTC rate jumps. However, you can avoid these higher prices by shopping for the best electricity deals in town. Be sure to start your shopping right here at https://www.ohenergyratings.com. We're also your best source for news and tips that could affect your electricity bills.
Average August AC bills may see distribution charges pushing above $100; total bills over $200. Find out what these charges are for and what they cost you.
Ohio energy customers have seen rising electricity rates before. Especially as energy demand rises faster than current electricity supply. So it may not be a surprise when AEP Ohio filed to raise distribution rates. But this news comes right before what may be a hotter-than-normal summer and right after an auction rate hike. But how much could your electricity bills rise and what can you do about it? Let's dive into why AEP Ohio seeks higher distribution rates.
How High AEP Ohio Rates Rise?
Late last month, AEP Ohio announced that it was filing for a distribution rate hike. Basically, the utility says the reason is to cover the cost for delivering electricity to its customers. By and large, this includes maintaining poles, wires, and equipment, replacing old equipment, and strengthening the grid.
Specifically, AEP Ohio seeks to raise its current Base Rate which is the combined cost of the Customer Service Charge and Monthly Energy Charge. The utility estimates that if you use 1000 kilowatt-hours (kWh)then the AEP Ohio base rate on your electricity bill would rise by 2.14% or about $3.95 per month.
Undoubtedly, all Ohio electricity customers must pay distribution charges. But these don't come cheap. In fact, according to an EIA estimate, distribution charges make up about 60% of an average bill. Similarly, AEP Ohio has 25+ riders in its current tariff, with 12 affecting most residential customers. But, rider amounts can change without the same level of scrutiny that a large rate filing gets. For this reason, it's important to to show customers what they're paying for. So, we're going to layout what's in the current AEP Ohio tariff.
Electricity Distribution Costs
To begin, August is the month that usually with the highest bill of the year. For many homes, summer costs for cooling are getting to be as expensive as winter. The EIA estimates that Ohio uses an average of 1074 kWh in August.
Predicted AEP Ohio Distribution Charges for August 2025 assuming 1074 kWh of use.
Shop Cheapest Electricity Rates
At $103.95, this kind of distribution charge is pretty hefty. As a result, the proposed hike will make it all the more difficult for many customers to pay their bills. But the real bad news is that this doesn't cover the supply charges.
Last year's PJM capacity auction recently pushed AEP Ohio's Price to Compare up from 7.32 cents per kWh to 9.97 cents per kWh on June 1. In this case, the new rate would add up to $107.00 in electricity supply charges on an average August electric bill. That's a monthly electric bill of about $210.00.
Luckily, you do have alternatives to the Price to Compare. For example, the Public Power Electric 12 Month Fixed Rate With MRC plan charges 7.99 cents per kWh. This rate equals a monthly supply charge of about $85 ($22 less than PTC rates).
Alternatively, you could shop for the APG&ETrue Simple 12 plan. This brings power to your home for 9.23 cents per kWh, or an average monthly supply charge of about $99. This is not only $8 less than PTC rates, but you can find more values by taking advantage of the dining and shopping discounts from the APG&E rewards program.
Offset Higher Distribution Rate
It may take another year for PUCO to take up the AEP Ohio filing. In the mean time, a good way to keep your electric bills lower is to use less energy. Of course, the best thing to do is to shop for better rates at https://www.ohenergyratings.com. We'll also keep you up to date on news and tips that could affect your bills.
