Should I switch electric suppliers? A plain checklist

Maybe a letter came in the mail. Maybe someone knocked on your door, or a friend said she saves money with a new company. Now you are wondering: should I switch?

Here is my short answer, then a checklist you can use with any offer.

The short answer

Switch only if the new price beats your utility's standard price after all fees, for the whole contract. If it doesn't, keep what you have. Staying put is a fine choice.

A few words first:

• Your utility is the company that brings power to your home, like AEP Ohio, PECO or ComEd.
• A supplier is a company that can sell you the electricity itself. Your utility still delivers it and fixes outages.
• Your standard price is what your utility charges if you never pick a supplier. For electric, all three states call it the Price to Compare.

Switching does not turn off your power. I explain that in Is it safe to switch my electric supplier?

Do people really save by switching?

Some do. Many don't. The state offices that speak up for home customers have looked at this.

In Ohio, the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) says: "Accepting an offer from an energy marketer is risky. Ohioans often save money by staying with their local utility's Standard Offer." (A "marketer" is another word for a supplier.)

In Illinois, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) looked at state data in August 2026. It found that ComEd and Ameren home customers with suppliers lost more than $2.3 billion since 2015 compared with the utility's price. They lost more than $206 million in the last year alone. About 19% of ComEd homes and about 40% of Ameren homes are with a supplier. You can read CUB's review (opens a new tab).

That does not mean every offer is bad. It means you should check before you say yes.

The checklist: questions to ask before you sign

The OCC has a good list of questions. I use them for every state. You can find them on the OCC's page about making wise energy choices (opens a new tab).

1. Will I save money compared to my utility's standard price?
2. How much will I pay for energy? Get the price per kilowatt-hour (kWh). A kWh is one unit of electricity. Your bill shows how many you use.
3. Is the price fixed, variable or a "teaser"?
4. Is there a fee to cancel? If so, how much?
5. How long is the contract?
6. Will it renew on its own if I don't act?
7. Will the charges be on my utility bill, or a separate bill?
8. When will the new price start?
9. What happens if I move?

If a seller can't answer these clearly, or rushes you, it is fine to say no.

Fixed, variable and teaser prices

• Fixed means the price per kWh stays the same for the whole contract.
• Variable means the price can change, often each month. Ask how often it can change and if there is a limit on how high it can go.
• Teaser (or introductory) means a low price for a short time. The OCC says it is "low for a brief period, perhaps one to three months, then increases to a higher price for the remainder of the contract."

Also remember that your utility's standard price is not set for good. It changes during the year. An offer that beats it today may not beat it in six months. There is more on this in Fixed vs variable electric rates.

What fees should I look for?

Look for two kinds of fees:

• A fee to leave early. This is called an early termination fee. In Ohio, the OCC says it "can be $100 or more." In Illinois, home customers can leave an electric supplier at any time with no fee. That has been state law since January 1, 2020.
• A monthly fee. This is a set charge on every bill, even in months when you use little power. It can eat up the savings from a lower price.

For the rules in each state, see Early termination fees and how to leave an energy supplier.

What happens when the plan ends?

This is the part that catches most people. When a contract ends, many renew on their own. The OCC warns that some contracts renew to monthly variable rates "that can be more than twice the price of the utility's Standard Offer."

Each state requires a letter before the end date, but the rules differ. I walk through them in Your electric supplier contract is ending. The key is to mark the end date on your calendar the day you sign.

Can I go back to my utility?

Yes, in all three states.

• Ohio: you can call your utility to switch back to its standard price. The OCC says to ask your supplier about any fee to leave first.
• Pennsylvania: the state's shopping site says to contact your utility and "ask to return to default service." (Default service is the utility's own price.)
• Illinois: the state says the utility will not charge a fee to go back, but "you may have to stay with the electric utility for at least 12 months."

Why "best supplier" lists don't fit everyone

You may see websites that list the "best electric supplier" in your state. Be careful with these. Offers are different in each utility's area. An offer for PECO customers may not be open to Duquesne Light customers at all. And some of those sites earn money from the suppliers they list.

The better place to look is your state's own list:

• Ohio: Apples to Apples (opens a new tab), run by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. I explain how to read it in How to use Apples to Apples in Ohio.
• Pennsylvania: PAPowerSwitch (opens a new tab), run by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.
• Illinois: Plug In Illinois (opens a new tab), run by the Illinois Commerce Commission.

A note on gas

Most of this list works for gas, too. In Ohio, gas offers are on the same Apples to Apples site. The price to beat is called the Standard Choice Offer, and it changes every month. See Why your Ohio gas price changes every month.

What to do next

• Run the free check. Send a photo of your bill. I compare your price to every offer for your area, fees included. If switching isn't worth it, I say so.
• See live prices for your state: Ohio, Pennsylvania or Illinois.
• Who to call with questions:
  • Ohio: PUCO at 1-800-686-7826, or the Ohio Consumers' Counsel at 1-877-742-5622
  • Pennsylvania: PA PUC at 1-800-692-7380, or the Office of Consumer Advocate at 1-800-684-6560
  • Illinois: Illinois Commerce Commission at 1-800-524-0795, or CUB at 1-800-669-5556

Judy Saves is not part of any state agency or utility, and I don't sell electricity. I'll never call you or knock on your door.