Help

Judy Saves reads your electric bill.

Then we check every price the State of Ohio lists for your area.

We tell you, in dollars, if a different price plan would save you money.

If your plan is already good, we tell you to keep it.

No. Judy Saves does not sell electricity or price plans.

We are not one of the companies that set electric prices. Some people call those companies suppliers.

We take no money from those companies for sign-ups.

You pay us $1.99 a month, or $19.99 a year. You can cancel any time.

No. Your lights stay on.

Your power company still brings power to your home and fixes outages.

It still reads your meter. In most cases it still sends your bill.

The company that sets your price is not allowed to shut off your power.

If that company goes out of business, your power company keeps your power on. You go back to its standard price.

Not always. Savings are not promised.

Ohio's consumer office says that, in the past, people who switched spent more than people who did not.

Some prices can go up each month. Some plans have fees.

That is why we check the math for you, fees included.

No. That is against the law. It is called slamming.

If it happens, call your power company and the PUCO.

You should not have to pay any fees for a switch you did not ask for.

You call the company that will set your new price. You do not call your power company.

That company tells your power company for you.

You can also sign up on the company's website.

Have your bill ready.

The company will ask for a number from your bill. Which number depends on your power company.

On Judy Saves, the steps under our pick tell you where to look.

Only give that number to a company you have decided to switch to.

The change happens on the day your meter is read.

Most people see the new price on their bill in 1 to 2 months.

Sometimes it takes 3 months.

Yes. After you sign up, your power company mails you a letter.

You have 7 days from the date stamped on that letter to cancel for free.

Call your power company at the number on the letter.

Ask for a cancellation number and write it down.

Yes. You can go back any time.

Call your power company and say: "I want to go back to standard service."

If your contract is not over, the company that sets your price may charge a fee to leave early.

The standard price can change a few times a year.

The company must mail you a notice 45 to 90 days before your plan ends.

Read it closely. Many plans start again on their own.

The new price can be higher. It can also change every month.

If your plan does not start again, you go back to your power company's standard price.

Look for a letter that talks about your contract "expiration."

Check the new price and the number of months.

If you do nothing, you may be moved to a price that changes each month.

Come back to Judy Saves when the letter comes. We will check your choices again.

Some plans charge a fee if you leave early.

When we last counted plans in FirstEnergy areas, most had no fee.

The rest charged up to $200.

We did not find a top limit on this fee in Ohio's rules.

The fee must be listed before you sign up.

If you move out of the company's area, you can leave with no fee.

Some plans add a set charge every month. It is on top of the price for your electricity.

When we compare plans, we count it in our math.

Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company and Toledo Edison do not charge you to go back.

The other power companies say you can go back any time.

Your old contract may still have its own fee to leave early.

"I'm with the power company." A company selling price plans may not say it is your power company.

"I'm from the city" or "This is a government program." Sellers must say which company they work for.

"Can I see your bill?" or "Read me your account number." That number lets someone switch you. Don't share it unless you have decided to switch.

"You're guaranteed to save." No one can promise that.

"This low price is just for the first month or two." That is a teaser. The price can jump a lot after that.

"You have to decide today." You never have to decide on the spot.

"Everyone has to pick a new company." That is not true. If you do nothing, your power company keeps serving you.

"You can't cancel." You can. You have 7 days after your power company mails you a letter about the change.

You never have to open the door.

A seller must wear a photo badge and say which company they work for.

They must leave when you ask.

They may only knock from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., unless your town has other rules.

If someone pushes you or will not leave, call the PUCO.

No. Judy Saves never calls you or knocks on your door.

If someone says they are from Judy Saves, hang up.

Call 1-800-686-7826. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you have trouble hearing or speaking, call 7-1-1.

Call them about pushy sellers, a switch you did not ask for, or other problems.

Call 1-877-742-5622. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This state office speaks up for people who pay utility bills.

Call your power company if the power goes out.

Call them to cancel a switch within 7 days of their letter.

FirstEnergy outage line: 1-888-544-4877. This is for Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company and Toledo Edison.

Other power companies list their numbers on your bill.

No. If you are on PIPP Plus, you cannot choose a different company to set your price.

You also cannot join a city program.

If you join PIPP Plus while you have a contract, you go back to your power company's standard price.

There is no fee for that.

Some cities and counties buy power for everyone in town as a group.

If your town does this, you are put in the program unless you say no.

To say no, send back the "opt-out" form by the date printed on it.

If you already have your own contract, you should not be added automatically.

Send back the form anyway if you want to keep your contract.

Your power company will also mail you a letter. You have 7 days from that letter to stay out.

Many city programs let you leave any time with no fee.

Check your program's rules to be sure.

You also get a chance to leave every three years with no switching fee.

To find out if your town has a program, ask your town office or call the PUCO.

We read your bill on our own computer.

We do not send it to an outside AI service.

Then we delete the photo.

We keep your email, your power company and the numbers you say are right.

That means your price, your contract end date and any cancel fee.

We also keep how much electricity you use in a month, and your past answers.

Your plan is paid through Stripe. We never see your card number.

We never keep your name, your address or your account number.

We never keep the bill photo or PDF.

You don't have a password, so there is none to steal.

You can delete your account in Settings. Everything is erased right away.