If your June electric bill looks higher, you’re not imagining it. On June 1, 2026, the default electricity supply prices for Ohio’s major utilities reset, and most went up just as air conditioning season begins.
Here’s what changed, why, and what you can do about it.
What Changed on June 1
Most Ohio homeowners who haven’t chosen an outside electricity supplier pay their utility’s default supply price, called the Price to Compare. You’ll find it printed on your bill. Here’s how it changed for the three utilities we serve most:
| Utility | Before June 1 | Starting June 1 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Energy Ohio (Cincinnati area) | 10.08¢/kWh | 10.70¢/kWh | about +6% |
| AES Ohio (Dayton area) | 9.45¢/kWh | about 10.86¢/kWh | about +15% |
| AEP Ohio (Columbus area) | 9.94¢/kWh | 10.12¢/kWh | about +2% |
A few notes:
- These figures cover electricity supply only. Delivery charges, riders and fixed monthly charges are separate lines on your bill.
- AES Ohio’s new price is set for the year, through May 31, 2027. Duke and AEP Ohio adjust their prices periodically, so they can move again.
- What it means in dollars depends on your usage. At 1,000 kWh a month, a one-cent increase adds about $10. Summer bills, with more air conditioning, feel it most.
Why Prices Went Up
A big driver is the regional power grid. Ohio is part of PJM, the grid operator for 13 states including Ohio and parts of Kentucky and Indiana. Each year, PJM holds an auction to make sure enough power plants are available during peak demand. That cost, called capacity, flows into everyone’s electricity prices.
For the period from June 2026 through May 2027, PJM’s capacity price hit $329.17 per megawatt-day, the maximum allowed and almost 22% higher than the year before. PJM estimated that would raise customers’ bills by about 1.5% to 5%, depending on the area. Fast-growing demand, including from data centers, is a major reason grid operators and regulators are watching these costs closely.
Last summer brought big jumps, too. We covered them in AEP Ohio Rate Increases: What You Need to Know and Electric Rates Are Rising in Dayton.
What You Can Do Right Now
1. Check your Price to Compare and shop if it makes sense.
Ohio lets you choose your electricity supplier. The state’s official comparison site, Apples to Apples (energychoice.ohio.gov), lists offers from certified suppliers. If you shop, compare fixed-rate offers against your Price to Compare, and read the fine print on monthly fees, contract length and cancellation fees. Your utility still delivers your power either way.
2. Cut summer usage where it’s easy.
A programmable or smart thermostat, ceiling fans, and closing blinds on sunny afternoons all help keep air conditioning costs down.
3. Look at the long-term picture.
Shopping for a supplier can lower your supply rate for a contract term, but it doesn’t protect you from the next auction, the next rate case or the next price reset.
Where Solar Fits
Solar works on a different part of the problem. Instead of shopping for a cheaper price per kilowatt-hour, you make some of your own kilowatt-hours.
- Every kilowatt-hour your panels produce and your home uses is one you don’t buy. That includes the supply price that just went up, plus the per-kWh delivery charges that come with it.
- Summer is solar’s strongest season, so your system produces the most when your air conditioning and your bills are highest. (See Do Solar Panels Work in Hot Weather?)
- Ohio utilities offer net metering for customer-owned solar, crediting you for excess power you send to the grid. The exact credit rules vary, so we walk through how they apply to your utility when we design your system.
Solar won’t eliminate fixed monthly charges, and it won’t make your bill disappear. But it does reduce how much of your electricity is exposed to prices you can’t control, year after year.
Thinking About Solar in Ohio?
Icon Solar has helped homeowners across Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana go solar since 2009. We’ll use your actual bills, including this summer’s, to show you realistic numbers.
Learn more about solar in Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus, see how many solar panels your home may need, explore solar financing options, or request your free quote. You can also call us at (866) 396-4266.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Ohio electric rates go up in June 2026?
Yes, for most customers on their utility’s default supply. On June 1, 2026, Duke Energy Ohio’s Price to Compare rose from about 10.08¢ to 10.70¢ per kWh, AES Ohio’s rose from 9.45¢ to about 10.86¢, and AEP Ohio’s moved from 9.94¢ to 10.12¢.
What is the Price to Compare in Ohio?
It’s your utility’s default price for electricity supply, shown on your bill. It covers generation only. Delivery charges and fixed fees are separate. You can compare it with offers from certified suppliers on the state’s Apples to Apples website.
Why did Ohio electricity prices increase?
A major factor is the PJM regional grid’s capacity price for June 2026 through May 2027, which reached $329.17 per megawatt-day, the maximum allowed and about 22% higher than the prior year. PJM estimated customer bills would rise about 1.5% to 5% depending on the area.
Should I switch electricity suppliers in Ohio?
It can make sense if you find a fixed-rate offer below your Price to Compare with no hidden fees. Read the contract terms carefully. Your utility still handles delivery and outages either way.
Can solar panels lower my Ohio electric bill?
Yes. Solar electricity you produce and use at home reduces how much electricity you buy, including the supply price and per-kWh delivery charges. Ohio utilities also offer net metering for excess solar. Solar doesn’t remove fixed monthly charges.
