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Ohio · Electric

How to read your AEP Ohio bill, line by line

By Dr. Matthew Crowley

· Updated · 6 min read

Checked against: Apples to Apples (energychoice.ohio.gov). How we get our prices

This guide is about Ohio. Judy checks bills in 18 states. Find your state's rules

If you get your electricity from AEP Ohio, your bill has a lot of lines. Some you can change. Most you can't. Here is a calm walk through each part, so you know which numbers matter when someone offers you a "better rate."

The number that matters most is AEP Ohio's Price to Compare. When it is set to change, it shows on Ohio price changes.

I'm using the bill walkthrough AEP Ohio posts on its website. It shows AEP Ohio's newer bill design. If your bill looks different, it may be an older layout. The ideas are the same.

The top of the bill: two parts

Near the top, AEP Ohio's bill splits This Month's Electric Cost into two parts:

  • Electric Generation. AEP Ohio's walkthrough calls this "the cost to produce the electricity we use."
  • Electric Grid. The walkthrough calls this "the cost for safely delivering electricity to you across poles and wires and maintaining the equipment necessary to keep the grid up and running."

Add the two together and you get your Electricity Cost.

Only the generation part can change if you pick a different company to sell you electricity. AEP Ohio says, "As an Ohio customer, you can choose your generation supplier." The grid part always stays with AEP Ohio. (AEP Ohio's legal name is Ohio Power Company, so you may see "Ohio Power" on the bill.)

The bill also has your usage history: a bar chart of the kilowatt-hours (kWh) you used each month. A kWh is one unit of electricity. The walkthrough says you can "compare the amount you used to last month, or to the same month last year." If one month is much higher than the same month last year, that's worth a look.

The line items

Further down, the bill lists each charge, with a short note under each one.

Generation charges. AEP Ohio describes these as "the costs to produce the electricity you use, as charged by your generation supplier." If you never picked a supplier, this is AEP Ohio's standard price times the kWh you used. If you have a supplier, the supplier's name and charges show here instead.

Grid charges. AEP Ohio describes these as "the costs to deliver power to your home across poles and wires, as charged by Ohio Power Company." You'll see several lines here:

  • A fixed monthly customer charge. You pay it even if you use very little power.
  • Transmission. The cost of moving high-voltage power from power plants toward your area. On an AEP Ohio bill, it's listed in the grid part, so it stays with AEP Ohio even if you switch.
  • Riders. Lines with "Rider" in the name are extra charges, and sometimes credits, each for a set purpose. Some pay for programs or grid work. One is a state tax. They change over time. A supplier can't make them go away.

Where AEP Ohio prints the Price to Compare

The Price to Compare is AEP Ohio's price for the electricity itself. It's the price a supplier has to beat.

The Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) says every Ohio electric bill must include the Price to Compare. AEP Ohio's choice questions page says your Price to Compare "is found on your Ohio Power bill below the total amount due." It also says that to save money on the supply part, "a supplier must offer you a price lower than Ohio Power's price per kWh for the same usage that appears on your bill." If you can't find it, call AEP Ohio and ask.

The Price to Compare changes during the year. To see today's price and what's coming next, use our AEP Ohio page and its what changes next page. I don't type prices into my guides, because they go out of date.

How to tell if you have a supplier

Look at the generation part of the bill. If another company's name is there, you have a supplier. If you see only AEP Ohio, you're on AEP Ohio's standard price, which AEP calls the Standard Service Offer.

If you have a supplier, write down its price per kWh. Then compare it with the Price to Compare. If the supplier's price is higher, you are paying more than you need to for that part of the bill. My guide Who is my electric supplier? walks through it.

Two things people often mix up

  • The customer charge is not a supplier fee. It's part of the grid charges, and every AEP Ohio home pays it. Some suppliers add their own monthly fee on top of their price. That one you can avoid.
  • A supplier can't lower your delivery charges. Be wary of anyone who says they'll "cut your whole bill." See Supply vs delivery charges.

Going back to AEP Ohio's price

If you have a supplier and want to go back, AEP Ohio says: "You can return to the Standard Service Offer at any time by either canceling your contract with your current supplier or by contacting AEP and requesting the Standard Service Offer service."

Before you do, check your contract for a fee to leave early. And know that AEP Ohio says switching "only occurs on the meter read date," so it may take until your next bill to show. My guide to early termination fees explains the Ohio rules.

A tip for evening out winter and summer

AEP Ohio offers Average Monthly Payments (AMP). AEP Ohio says the plan "spreads the costs over the entire year, so you pay about the same amount each month." Ask about it if big summer or winter bills are hard on your budget.

One catch: AEP Ohio says AMP covers only AEP Ohio's own charges. If you have a supplier and want an even bill for the generation part, AEP Ohio says to ask your supplier.

Who to call

  • AEP Ohio: 1-800-672-2231
  • Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO): 1-800-686-7826
  • Ohio Consumers' Counsel: 1-877-742-5622

Judy Saves is independent. I don't sell electricity and no supplier pays me. I'll never call you or knock on your door.

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