Columbus electricity rates
Compare every licensed supplier serving Columbus side by side — real per-kWh rates, no paid rankings, no sales calls. AEP Ohio delivers the power no matter which plan you pick.
What's a good rate? The typical Columbus plan runs about 10.5¢/kWh — anything near today's 7.45¢ floor is a strong deal.
Lowest rate in Columbus right now
7.45¢/kWh
across 39 licensed OH suppliers
Enter your ZIP for plans at your address
Reviewed byJohn Spencer· Updated June 2026
Independent & not affiliated with any supplier — ranked by real cost, never by who pays us.
Quick answer: The cheapest electricity rate in Columbus right now is 7.45¢/kWh, available from 39 licensed OH suppliers. Compare plans below or enter your ZIP code for personalized results.
Top 5 electricity rates in Columbus
The lowest honest per-kWh rates from Apples to Apples, updated weekly. For context, the typical plan here runs about 10.5¢/kWh — so anything below that is a good rate.
Rank these plans for your home
Set your typical monthly usage — we'll re-rank every plan by what it would actually cost you, not just its headline rate.
Ranked by your estimated cost at 1,000 kWh/month (the typical household — change it above)
| Supplier | Rate at 1,000 kWh | Est. monthly | Term | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 American Power & Gas of Ohio Cheapest | 7.45¢/kWh | $74.50 | 3 mo fixed | View plan |
American Power & Gas of Ohio 100% Green | 7.95¢/kWh | $79.50 | 3 mo fixed | View plan |
 SFE Energy Ohio | 7.99¢/kWh | $79.90 | 6 mo fixed | View plan |
APG&E | 8.48¢/kWh | $84.80 | 11 mo fixed | View plan |
 Public Power | 8.49¢/kWh | $84.90 | 12 mo fixed | View plan |
Every plan, ranked by your real cost
All 158plans — including variable and bill-credit plans — sorted by what they'd actually cost at 1,000 kWh. A plan that looks cheap at 1,000 kWh can cost much more at your usage; here it sorts to where it really belongs.
| # | Supplier | Rate at 1,000 kWh | Est. monthly | Type | Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Power & Gas of Ohio | 6.45¢/kWh | $64.50 | Variable · 1 mo | View |
| 2 | American Power & Gas of Ohio | 7.45¢/kWh | $74.50 | Fixed · 3 mo | View |
| 3 | American Power & Gas of Ohio | 7.95¢/kWh | $79.50 | Fixed · 3 mo | View |
| 4 | American Power & Gas of Ohio | 7.95¢/kWh | $79.50 | Variable · 1 mo | View |
| 5 | SFE Energy Ohio | 7.99¢/kWh | $79.90 | Fixed · 6 mo | View |
| 6 | APG&E | 8.48¢/kWh | $84.80 | Fixed · 11 mo | View |
| 7 | Public Power | 8.49¢/kWh | $84.90 | Fixed · 12 mo | View |
| 8 | Just Energy | 8.49¢/kWh | $84.90 | Fixed · 12 mo | View |
Rates for OH licensed suppliers, ranked by estimated cost at 1,000 kWh/month. Usage-sensitive (bill-credit) plans show their true effective rate at your usage, not the 1,000-kWh headline.
Major providers serving Columbus
The big national brands serve Columbustoo. Here's the lowest honest rate each one offers right now. Most price above the cheapest plans in our Top 5 above — we list them by name so you can compare like for like, not because they're the cheapest.
Prefer a specific provider? Check what they offer at your address.
Best plan by usage level
Your monthly bill depends on how much electricity you use.
Low usage (500 kWh)
500 kWh/month
Cheapest at this usage
6.45¢/kWh
American Power & Gas of Ohio
Est. $32/month for generation
Average usage (850 kWh)
850 kWh/month
Cheapest at this usage
6.45¢/kWh
American Power & Gas of Ohio
Est. $55/month for generation
High usage (1,200 kWh)
1200 kWh/month
Cheapest at this usage
6.45¢/kWh
American Power & Gas of Ohio
Est. $77/month for generation
Columbus at a glance
906k
Population
Local utility
Primary utility
7.45¢
Lowest competitive rate
Lock in a rate from 7.45¢/kWh
Enter your ZIP to see every licensed OH supplier at your address — switching takes minutes.
Your utility vs. your supplier
Ohio deregulated electricity generation in 1999. Your utility handles delivery; you choose who generates your power.
Distribution Utility
AEP Ohio
- Maintains power lines and infrastructure
- Handles outages and emergencies
- Sends your monthly bill
You can't change your utility
More about AEP Ohio & its cities →Your Supplier
You choose
- Generates your electricity
- Sets your generation rate
- Offers fixed or variable pricing
39 suppliers available in Columbus
Rates from 7.45¢/kWh
41%
of OH households have chosen a competitive supplier
100+
PUCO-licensed residential electricity suppliers
1-2
billing cycles to complete a supplier switch
Active suppliers in this area
Clearview Electric
24 plans
Public Power
11 plans
Ohio Gas & Electric
11 plans
APG&E
8 plans
Santanna Energy Services
8 plans
Dynegy Energy Services (east)
7 plans
American Power & Gas of Ohio
6 plans
Better Buy Energy
6 plans
Energy Harbor
6 plans
Brighten Energy
6 plans
Direct Energy Services
5 plans
Aep Energy
5 plans
How electricity choice works
Lower rates
Shop for rates below your utility's Price to Compare
Same service
Your utility still delivers power and handles outages
Price protection
Fixed-rate plans lock in your rate for 6-24 months
Green options
100% renewable plans often cost the same or less
How to switch suppliers
Find your PTC
Check your utility bill for your current Price to Compare. This is the benchmark rate to beat.
Compare rates
Use Apples to Apples or compare suppliers here. Look at rate, term, and fees.
Enroll online
Sign up with your chosen supplier. Your utility handles the switch automatically.
Setting up electricity in Columbus
Moving to Columbus or switching providers? The mechanics are simple. AEP Ohio delivers your electricity over the same poles and wires no matter which retail provider you pick — so choosing or changing a plan never means a service interruption, a technician visit, or new equipment. You sign up with a provider, and the switch completes within one to two billing cycles.
To enroll you'll need your service address and, if you're already a customer, a recent bill (it lists your AEP Ohio account number and meter — handy but not always required). New to the address? You can usually start service for a future move-in date.
Frequently asked questions
- Who has the cheapest electricity rate in Columbus?
- The cheapest clean, fixed-rate plan (3+ months) in Columbus is currently 7.45¢/kWh — that's the honest headline we rank on. But the truly "cheapest" plan depends on your usage: many Columbus plans advertise a lower number using bill credits that only apply around 1,000 kWh a month, so they aren't actually cheapest if your home uses more or less. That's why we re-rank every plan by what you'd really pay at your usage level instead of the teaser rate.
- How does electricity deregulation work in Columbus?
- Columbus is served by AEP Ohio, which delivers electricity to homes and businesses. Ohio deregulated electricity generation in 1999, meaning you can choose a different company to generate your power while AEP Ohio continues to deliver it.
- Who delivers electricity in Columbus?
- AEP Ohio is the distribution utility for Columbus and Franklin County. They own and maintain the power lines, handle outages, and send your bill. Regardless of which supplier you choose, AEP Ohio delivers your electricity.
- How do I switch electricity suppliers in Columbus?
- Three steps: Compare rates, enroll directly with your chosen supplier online, and wait 1-2 billing cycles for the switch to complete. There's no service interruption, no new equipment, and no fee from AEP Ohio to switch.
- What is the Price to Compare for AEP Ohio customers?
- The Price to Compare (PTC) is AEP Ohio's default generation rate for customers who don't choose a supplier. It changes periodically based on wholesale market prices. The PTC is the benchmark suppliers need to beat.
Related guides
How Energy Choice Works in Ohio
Understanding Ohio's deregulated electricity market
How to Switch Providers in Ohio
Step-by-step guide to switching suppliers
Shopping for Electricity in Ohio
Tips for comparing plans on Apples to Apples
Fixed vs Variable Rate Plans
Which plan type makes sense for your household
How we collect this data
Rate data is sourced from Apples to Apples, the official OH PUC marketplace, and refreshed weekly. Volt Butler is an independent comparison site — we don't accept payments from suppliers to rank them higher. The AEP Ohio Price to Compare is sourced from AEP Ohio's most recent published rate schedule.
Ready to compare Columbus electricity rates?
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Free comparison · 39+ PUCO-licensed suppliers · EIA-cited data