In 1996, Ohio opened its natural gas market to competition, allowing residents to choose their gas supplier. (Electric deregulation followed in 2001.) This means you have the legal right to shop for a better price on the gas commodity itself.
Here's the key distinction: you choose your gas supplier, but your utility still delivers it. Columbia Gas, Enbridge, or CenterPoint maintains the pipes, reads your meter, and responds to emergencies regardless of who supplies your gas.
If you don't choose a supplier, you're automatically placed on the Standard Choice Offer (SCO) — the default rate set monthly by the utility based on market prices. About 3 million Ohio customers are on the SCO right now.
Three utilities currently use the SCO system:
Columbia Gas of Ohio · Enbridge Gas Ohio · CenterPoint Energy Ohio
Duke Energy Ohio currently uses a different method called Gas Cost Recovery (GCR), but is moving to the SCO system in April 2026.
Hover over your county to see your utility.
Columbia Gas of OhioEnbridge Gas OhioCenterPoint Energy OhioDuke Energy Ohio
Find your utility by ZIP code
Section 2
How the SCO Rate Is Set
The SCO rate you pay each month is calculated from two components:
NYMEX month-end settlement price — the commodity cost of natural gas, determined by national markets. This changes monthly based on supply, demand, and weather.
Retail Price Adjustment (RPA) — the supplier's cost to actually deliver gas to your utility's system. This is set through a competitive auction process, with results announced by PUCO.
SCO = (NYMEX settlement + RPA) ÷ 10 = $/ccf
Because both components can change, your SCO rate fluctuates monthly. You have no price certainty — it could go up or down from one bill to the next.
The 2025–2026 RPA spike
The RPA jumped from $1.66/Mcf to $3.25/Mcf — a 96% increase. This is the primary reason bills have roughly doubled for SCO customers. The RPA is set by auction, and the latest auction produced dramatically higher bids. This isn't a one-time blip — it reflects structural changes in supplier costs.
Section 3
Understanding Your Bill — Line by Line
Your natural gas bill has two completely separate parts: delivery and supply. Most people see one big total and never look further. Once you understand the difference, shopping for a better rate becomes obvious — and the savings become very real.
💡
Only one part of your bill can change when you switch suppliers.
Columbia Gas charges for delivery (pipes, meter, infrastructure) and supply (the gas itself). Switching to a competing supplier only changes the supply line. Columbia Gas still delivers your gas, responds to emergencies, and maintains your service — nothing about that changes.
🏠 Delivery — Columbia GasFIXED — Can't change
Fixed Monthly Delivery Charge
Meter, pipes, emergency service. Same every month.
If on default SCO ($1.071/ccf):
118 ccf × $1.071 + tax ≈ $133.88
vs. $63.59 on fixed — saving ~$70/month
Example based on a real Columbia Gas of Ohio bill at 118 ccf/month. Your charges vary by usage and rate class.
What are those "rider" charges?
Riders are PUCO-approved fees for infrastructure programs every Ohio utility runs. The names differ by utility but the concept is identical: mandatory charges for replacing aging pipelines, meeting federal safety requirements, and funding system upgrades. Switching suppliers never eliminates riders.
Infrastructure Replacement Program Rider
Replaces older cast iron and bare steel gas distribution pipes across Ohio.
~$5.33/mo
PHMSA Infrastructure Rider
Federal pipeline safety compliance requirements.
~$0.46/mo
Capital Expenditure Program Rider
Major system improvements approved by PUCO.
~$6.14/mo
Infrastructure Development Rider
New gas line extensions and system expansion.
~$0.87/mo
The bottom line: The only line that changes when you switch suppliers is the supply cost. Delivery, riders, and taxes all stay identical. With the SCO at $1.071/ccf today, that one line is costing the average Ohio household $50–$100/month more than it needs to.
See how SCO rates have moved over time — and why locking in a fixed rate can protect you from spikes.
Source: PUCO official SCO historical charts. EIA Ohio Residential data used for pre-2018 reference.
Section 5
What Happened in 2022 (and Why It's Happening Again)
In early 2022, Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent global natural gas markets into chaos. European countries scrambled for liquefied natural gas (LNG), which drove up demand and prices worldwide. Ohio SCO rates hit $1.10/ccf in September 2022 — roughly 4× the COVID-era lows.
Through 2023 and 2024, prices fell back to a more normal $0.32–$0.50/ccf range as markets stabilized.
Then it happened again. In the 2025–2026 heating season:
PUCO's RPA auction produced a 96% increase in the Retail Price Adjustment
This is a structural problem, not a one-time event.
The SCO rate is exposed to both commodity market volatility (NYMEX) and supplier auction dynamics (RPA). As long as you're on the SCO, your bill is at the mercy of both. A fixed-rate plan eliminates this uncertainty for the length of your contract.
Section 6
Government Aggregation
Ohio law allows municipalities and townships to aggregate the buying power of all residents and negotiate a group gas or electric rate. This is called Governmental Aggregation.
Your local government negotiates a single rate on behalf of all eligible residents
You're automatically enrolled but can always opt out
Some aggregation programs offer better rates than you'd get shopping individually
Many Greater Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati suburbs have active programs
Check if your municipality has a program by contacting your local government or calling PUCO at (800) 686-7826. Look for a "Governmental Aggregation" notice on your bill.
Already in an aggregation program?
You may already have a better rate than the default SCO. Check your bill — if you see a supplier name other than your utility, you're either in an aggregation program or have previously chosen a supplier. You can still opt out and shop individually if you find a better deal.
Active Government & Municipal Aggregation Programs
Below are known active aggregation programs across Ohio. These bulk-rate programs are negotiated by municipalities, counties, or nonprofit councils on behalf of residents — and they don't appear on PUCO's Apples to Apples site.
⚠ Eligibility varies by municipality
These programs are only available to residents of participating communities. You must live within the program's service area to be eligible. PIPP Plus participants are not eligible for government aggregation. Check your bill or contact your local government to confirm.
About this data: Rate data for aggregation programs is not always publicly available. We list programs for awareness — always verify current rates directly with the program or your local government. Rates change with each contract cycle (typically every 1–2 years). Last updated: February 2026.
Section 7
When Is the Best Time to Switch?
Most people think about switching suppliers when they're staring at a high winter bill. That's the worst time to act. By then, the window has already closed — and you're stuck paying the higher rate for at least another 1–2 billing cycles before any switch takes effect.
⏱️ Switches take 1–2 billing cycles to take effect.
Sign up with a new supplier today and your new rate typically won't apply until next month or the month after. That lag means timing matters more than most people realize.
🔥 Natural Gas: Lock In September–October
Your highest gas bills arrive December through February, when Ohio winters drive heating demand through the roof. To make sure your lower supplier rate kicks in before that season:
Lock in your rate in September or October — that's your target window
The switch processes during October or November, so your new rate is active for December billing
If you wait until you see that first high November or December bill, you've already missed it
Rates are usually calmer in late summer — that's when the deals are best
⚡ Electric: Lock In April–May
Ohio's electric market has an annual spring capacity auction that sets the baseline costs public utilities pass on to customers. Once that auction settles, you can see where the default rate is headed before summer cooling season kicks in:
Lock in your rate in April or May after the capacity auction results are known
Your switch processes in May or June, so you're covered heading into summer
Summer cooling bills (July–August) are your highest electric months — same logic as gas
Waiting until July when your AC is running non-stop means you're already in the expensive window
Optimal Switch Windows at a Glance
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
🔥 GAS
LOCK
LOCK
⚡ ELECTRIC
LOCK
LOCK
Best window to lock in High-bill season (too late) Rising — act fast Off-season / calm
📬 Set up a free rate alert.
Know when rates drop into the optimal range before these windows open. Ohio Rate Watch will notify you so you can act at the right moment — not when it's already too late.
Before signing with any natural gas supplier, ask these questions:
Is this rate fixed or variable? For how long?
What is the Early Termination Fee (ETF)?
Are there monthly fees beyond the per-ccf rate?
What happens at contract end — do I auto-renew at a new rate?
Is this a promotional/intro rate that changes after month 1?
Is any portion of this renewable energy?
Is this rate available to me as a Columbia Gas / Enbridge / CenterPoint customer?
Watch out for intro/teaser rates.
Some suppliers advertise a very low price that only lasts for the first month, then switches to a market-based variable rate. Always confirm the rate that applies for the full contract term.
Section 9
Steps to Switch Suppliers
Know your current supplier and rate. Check your bill — it's listed in the Supply section.
Know your usage. Find your average ccf/month on your bill. This determines your actual savings.