Delivery utility versus generation supplier
AEP Ohio, Duke Energy Ohio and the FirstEnergy Ohio utilities serve different distribution territories. FirstEnergy’s Ohio utilities include Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company and Toledo Edison. The utility name on the bill identifies the network and tariff to use. A competitive supplier sells the generation component under its own agreement. Similar company names do not make the two roles interchangeable. Start the comparison with the delivery utility, service class and billing period, rather than a statewide ranking.
Use a benchmark from the same billing period
Find the applicable price to compare or default supply component on the current business bill. Check the effective dates, rate class and whether the number includes the same supply components as the offer. A residential benchmark is not automatically appropriate for a commercial meter. A historical rate can explain an old bill but does not establish what a new contract should cost. Save the benchmark’s date and source beside the offer so a later review does not compare different periods.
Build an offer comparison that includes fees
Ask each supplier for the same start month, contract length, usage history and product structure. Record energy, capacity and transmission treatment, monthly fees, usage bands and early termination provisions. A lower energy-only rate may be less attractive after fixed fees or pass-throughs. Use our calculator to compare the parts that are actually quoted, then list exclusions separately. Do not represent this supply subtotal as an all-in utility bill.
Check municipal and cooperative service first
Cleveland and Columbus also have municipal electric systems; a city name alone is not proof of service by an investor-owned utility. Other communities have municipal or cooperative arrangements. The actual meter’s utility and eligibility control the available options. Confirm these before collecting supplier offers. If competitive electricity choice is unavailable, a useful review can still address the tariff, demand, operating schedules and efficiency rather than promise an unavailable switch.
A practical example
Illustrative explanation, not a customer outcome.
For an illustrative 10,000 kWh month, Offer A at 8.0¢/kWh plus a $25 monthly fee costs $825 for the modeled supply components. Offer B at 8.2¢/kWh with no monthly fee costs $820. The apparently higher rate is $5 lower in this example. Delivery, taxes and unquoted pass-throughs are excluded.
Put the review into practice
| Review step | What to record |
|---|---|
| Match the request | Use the same utility, class, quantities, start and term. |
| Resolve exclusions | Ask how every omitted cost is calculated; unknown is not zero. |
| Read the exit terms | Review renewal, cancellation, relocation and usage conditions. |
| Retain the evidence | Save the dated quote, complete agreement and decision rationale. |
Questions worth asking
Can I switch from AEP delivery to Duke delivery?
Ordinary supplier choice does not move your service address to a different distribution utility. Confirm your actual service territory with the utility.
Which utility has the cheapest business rate?
There is no durable statewide winner. Compare the applicable class, period, components and address-specific supplier offers.
Continue the comparison
Sources and scope
Reviewed October 15, 2026. Follow the source’s own data period, effective dates and current terms. Examples are hypothetical unless expressly identified as a dated published result. A source is context, not a guarantee of eligibility or a product endorsement.