My electric bill jumped. Is it a variable rate?

You open your electric bill and the total is much higher than last month. You didn't run the air more. Nothing changed at home. What happened?

Sometimes it is the weather, or your utility's price went up for everyone. But a big jump like this often means something else: a supplier's price changed. Here is how to tell, and what to do today.

Step 1: Is there a supplier's name on my bill?

First, a few words:

• Your utility is the company that brings power to your home, like Ohio Edison, PPL or ComEd.
• A supplier is a company that can sell you the electricity itself. You may have signed up with one at the door, on the phone or by mail. Your utility still delivers the power.

If you have a supplier, its name and price usually show up as their own section on your utility bill. The Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) says most people who switch see the supplier's charges "separately identified on their monthly utility bill." In Illinois, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) says to "check the 'Supply' section of your bill."

If you see a company name there that is not your utility, you have a supplier. If you don't remember signing up with them, see the section on complaints below.

Step 2: Compare its price to the standard price

Find the supplier's price per kilowatt-hour (kWh) on your bill. A kWh is one unit of electricity. Then compare it to your utility's standard price. That is the price you would pay without a supplier.

• In Ohio and Pennsylvania, it is called the Price to Compare. In Ohio it is printed on your bill. See What is the Price to Compare on my Ohio electric bill?
• In Illinois, it is the utility's supply price. You can see it on our ComEd and Ameren Illinois pages.

If the supplier's price is much higher than the standard price, you have found the cause.

Why did my supplier's price go up?

There are three common reasons.

The intro price ended

Some offers start low and then go up. The OCC calls this a teaser rate. It is "low for a brief period, perhaps one to three months, then increases to a higher price for the remainder of the contract."

The contract ended and rolled over

When a contract ends, many move you to a new price on their own. The OCC says: "Many marketer contracts automatically renew to significantly higher monthly variable rates at the end of the contract period if the customer does not follow up." (A "marketer" is another word for a supplier.) The OCC has also warned that these rates "can be more than twice the price of the utility's Standard Offer."

You should have gotten a letter before this happened. If you missed it, you are not alone. See Your electric supplier contract is ending for what those letters look like.

Your price is variable and the market moved

A variable price can change, often every month. In Pennsylvania, if there is no limit on how much the price can change, the supplier's disclosure must say so "clearly and conspicuously." That is the rule in 52 Pa. Code § 54.5 (opens a new tab). So check your paperwork. There may be no cap at all.

For more on how these prices work, see Fixed vs variable electric rates.

What can I do today?

You have two choices. You can pick a better offer from another supplier. Or you can go back to your utility's standard price. Either way, you don't have to keep paying a price that is too high.

First, check whether you will owe a fee to leave. The rules are different in each state.

Ohio

• Going back: call your utility and ask to switch to its standard price. The OCC says to call your supplier to ask about any fee to leave.
• Fees: a fee to leave early is allowed and set by your contract. The OCC says it "can be $100 or more."
• No fee at the end: the OCC says there is no fee to go back to the standard price at the end of a contract.
• Some variable plans have no fee: if your variable plan only describes the "factors" that make the price change, and gives no set formula, Ohio's rule says "no early termination fee may be charged." That is Ohio rule 4901:1-21-12 (opens a new tab).

Pennsylvania

• Going back: 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.)
• After your contract ends: if you did nothing when the contract ended, you are likely on a month-to-month plan. The state says you can stay "on a month-to-month basis without any early termination fees, but most likely at a different rate." So you can leave with no fee.
• During a contract: a fee to leave must be listed in your contract in dollars, or with a clear way to work it out.

Illinois

• Fees: none. Since January 1, 2020, Illinois law says home customers can end a contract with an electric supplier "at any time without any termination fees or penalties."
• Going back: the state says your utility won't charge a fee, but "you may have to stay with the electric utility for at least 12 months." Keep that in mind if you want to shop again soon.

Gas

The same thing can happen with a gas supplier. In Ohio, you compare with your gas company's Standard Choice Offer, which changes every month. See Why your Ohio gas price changes every month.

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

How long until my bill goes down?

Not right away, so don't worry if next month's bill still looks high.

• Ohio: the OCC says it can take "up to two to three billing cycles" for a switch to show on your bill, and about the same time for it to come off after you cancel.
• Pennsylvania: the state's shopping site says a change of supplier takes about three business days once your utility is told. Ask your utility which bill will show the new price.
• Illinois: CUB says switching "can take up to two months." Ask your utility when the change will take effect.

When you call, write down the date, the name of the person you spoke to and any number they give you.

How do I complain?

If you were not told about the price change, feel misled, or never agreed to the supplier at all, you can file a complaint. These state offices are free to call:

• Ohio: the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) at 1-800-686-7826. You can also call the Ohio Consumers' Counsel at 1-877-742-5622.
• Pennsylvania: the PA Public Utility Commission at 1-800-692-7380.
• Illinois: the Illinois Commerce Commission at 1-800-524-0795. You can also call the Illinois Attorney General at 1-800-386-5438 (Northern Illinois), 1-800-243-0618 (Central Illinois) or 1-800-243-0607 (Southern Illinois).

Have your bill and any letters from the supplier nearby when you call.

How to catch it sooner next time

A price jump is easy to miss. It hides in one line of a long bill, and you may not see it until you've paid two or three high bills.

That is the reason I built Judy Saves. When you sign up, I keep an eye on the offers for your area and email you when you could pay less. You don't have to read every bill line by line.

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

What to do next

• Run the free check. Send a photo of your bill. I'll find the supplier's price, compare it to your standard price and every offer for your area, and tell you what I'd do.
• See the standard price and offers for your state: Ohio, Pennsylvania or Illinois.
• Ohio electric: AEP Ohio, Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company, Toledo Edison, Duke Energy Ohio, AES Ohio
• Pennsylvania electric: PECO, PPL Electric, or find your utility on the Pennsylvania page.
• More plain answers are on the Help page.