Starting Electricity Service in Ohio

Whether you are setting up your first home or moving to the state, starting your electricity service in Ohio is a simple task. However, under the Ohio Energy Choice program, you do have the right to shop around for the best priced energy plans. So it pays to learn about the Ohio energy market and start shopping as soon as you know your moving date. That way, you know how to get the best deal.

Getting Started

First off, you need to contact the local utility who will be delivering power to your home. You can get information about your utility from your landlord, seller, or realtor. While you can set up service over the phone, most Ohio utilities now let you submit a service request online.

Be ready to supply the following information when you make your service request:

Name
Date of birth
Service Address
Your phone number
Driver's license number, passport, or other form of valid identification
Social Security number (which is needed to check your credit history)

Utilities usually start service two to three days after you submit your request. Installing service to a new build may take up to ten days. Should it take longer, they will need to inform you in writing. Be sure to confirm when your service will start and also ask when your first bill will arrive.

Credit Checks

When you sign up for new electric service, the utility will verify your credit. So, your local utility company will need to check your credit worthiness before setting up an account. To see if you will need to pay a deposit, they conduct a credit check usingthe following criteria:

Have a prior account within the last two years with no more than two late payments or with no previous service disconnected within the last twelve months
Be a credit-worthy property owner
Have a guarantor who is a customer with the utility company and can pay your bills within 60 days if you fail to do so

If you don't meet the criteria, the utility company may ask for a deposit to establish your account. By law, these deposits can't be more than the average 30-day bill plus 30%. If you do pay a deposit, the company should provide a receipt detailing your information, the amount paid, any interest that will be paid if held for more than six months, the length of deposit required and any conditions for refunding it.

How Your Monthly Bill is Calculated

Your electric bill is composed of the Electricity Supply Charges and Distribution Charges.

Electricity Supply Charges is the cost (in cents per kWh) for the electricity supplied in kWh by your supplier. In Ohio, you can select your utility's default service rate or shop for lower Ohio Electricity Rates from your own retail supplier.

Distribution Charges: This charge consists of a flat customer charge per account and a distribution charge in cents per kWh for delivering electricity over utility's local grid to your home. PUCO oversees the cost for these rates.

In an average year, an average Ohio home uses about 750 kWh per month. However, your utility will make a reasonable attempt to obtain an actual meter reading for each billing period. Many Ohio utilties are installing smart meters as part of the modernization program that allows the automatic sending of power usage to utility companies. However, in those areas still using analog meters, the utilities can use estimates based on previous usage to determine monthly customer bills. If a meter has not been read within the preceding thirty-three to fifty-nine days, the electric utility is required to inform the customer. Customers can request request two actual meter reads per calendar year, at no charge.