Ohio Electric Customers Fight to Keep Rates Low - WILL OHIO ELECTRIC RATES RISE?
[AEP Ohio filed to hike rates for residential customers. The change will take place this spring.]_AEP Ohio has filed to raise distribution rates starting in April. Find out what you can do and what other electric utilities also hope to increase your bills._
Ohio customers see some of the highest energy bills in the country, and yet electricity rates [https://www.ohenergyratings.com/electricity-rates] may rise even higher next year. That means your bills could spike even more than usual. But how much could bills rise if these rate increases go through and is there anything you can do about it? Time is running out, so let's see how Ohio electric customers can fight to keep rates low.
THE AEP OHIO RATE INCREASE
Back in May, AEP OHIO filed to raise distribution charges [https://dis.puc.state.oh.us/ViewImage.aspx?CMID=A1001001A25E30A94452G01817] starting April 2026. Obviously, no one likes higher prices, but the utility explains [https://www.aepohio.com/company/about/rates/2025-base-case] that this rate is important for maintaining the grid. This includes replacing equipment (poles, wires, and transformers), adding outage protection, and better weather response.
The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC) estimates that an average AEP Ohio customer using 1000 kWh per month will pay nearly $4 more on their monthly bill. That adds up to nearly $50 more a year [https://www.occ.ohio.gov/fac...
