Understanding your electric bill.
Your bill is two halves added together. Only one of them is shoppable — and that's the one we help you compare.
The two halves of your bill
For a typical 900 kWh month with AEP Ohio. Numbers are estimates.
Supply (Generation)
The cost of the actual electrons — produced at power plants and bought on the wholesale market. This is the only line you can change by switching suppliers. Usually 50–65% of your total bill.
Delivery (Distribution)
What AEP Ohio charges to maintain poles, wires, transformers, and your meter. Set by PUCO. You can't shop this — everyone in this territory pays the same.
Taxes & riders
State sales tax, kWh tax, plus rate riders for things like grid modernization and low-income assistance. Small but adds up — typically 6–10% of the bill.
What is the “Price to Compare”?+
It's the supply rate your utility charges if you don't pick a competitive supplier. PUCO updates it quarterly based on auctions — so the number you see this month can change in 90 days. That's why we show you the annual cost of each offer, not “savings vs. PTC.”
If I switch, who sends my bill?+
Still your utility. They bundle the supply charges from your new supplier onto the same monthly bill — you don't get two bills, and your service doesn't change. If the lights go out, you still call AEP Ohio.
What's a rate rider?+
A line-item charge approved by PUCO to recover specific costs — storm hardening, smart-meter rollout, energy-efficiency programs. They show up as small additions on your delivery side. You can't opt out.
Why is my bill higher in summer?+
Air conditioning. Supply and delivery rates don't change month-to-month under a fixed plan, but your kWh usage can double in July vs. April. That's why we ask for your average monthly usage — to give you a realistic annual cost.