Columbus
electricity rates - no ugly plans

Enter your zip code to compare Columbus electricity rates and electric companies.

Columbus Electric Rate Map
EnergyBot
>
Ohio
>
Columbus Electricity Rates

Average Columbus Electric Rates

Thad Warren By Thad Warren
Fact Checked
Kendra Aquino By Kendra Aquino

This section highlights the average Columbus electricity rates for residential and commercial customers.

  • The lowest residential electricity rate in Columbus is 6.18¢ ($0.0618) and the average rate is 6.67¢.
  • The lowest commercial electricity rate in Columbus is 6.08¢ ($0.0608) and the average rate is 6.43¢.

Columbus Electricity Plans

Current rates from energy companies in Columbus

Provider
Plan Name
Term
Rate
Tomorrow Energy
Earth Care
12 months
6.09¢
Clearview Energy
ClearGuarantee12
12 months
6.19¢
AP Gas & Electric
EnergyBot 12
12 months
6.93¢
Clearview Energy
ClearCharge12
12 months
7.79¢

Shopping for a business? Jump to commercial rates.

Lowest Electric Rate in Columbus Today

Provider
Plan Name
Term
Rate
Tomorrow Energy
Earth Care
12 months
6.09¢
Clearview Energy
ClearGuarantee12
12 months
6.19¢
Smart Energy
Smart Energy - 18
18 months
6.24¢
Energy Harbor Corp.
Safe Harbor 10
10 months
6.40¢
AP Gas & Electric
EnergyBot 6
6 months
6.65¢

Columbus Energy Providers and Utilities

Compare Columbus electricity rates from top energy companies

In 1999, Ohio deregulated the state’s electricity market giving Columbus based businesses the power to choose their electricity provider. The deregulated market forced energy suppliers to be more efficient and to compete for customers – offering an opportunity for businesses of all sizes to compare energy plans from top energy suppliers and shop for the best available rates.

In most cases, Columbus businesses that take advantage of the competitive market can more effectively manage their monthly electricity costs by switching energy providers, plans and rates, as needed.

What is PUCO?

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, known as PUCO, is the public utilities commission of the U.S. state of Ohio, charged with the regulation of utility service providers, including electricity, natural gas, and telecommunications. PUCO was created to assure Ohioans adequate, safe and reliable public utility services at a fair price.

In doing so, PUCO impacts every business in Columbus – as it regulates all providers of utility services, including electric and natural gas companies, local and long distance telephone companies, water and wastewater companies, rail and trucking companies. Recently, the PUCO gained responsibility for facilitating competitive utility choices for Ohio consumers.

As an Columbus business owner, it is important to understand that PUCO is also synonymous with the “Apples to Apples” energy comparison charts.

What is the difference between a Utility and an Energy Provider?

Utilities are the entities in charge of the operation and maintenance of the energy infrastructure, like wires and towers. The local utility in Columbus, AEP, is responsible for transporting electricity from the generators to residential homes and businesses in this specific region.

Energy providers in Ohio, like AEP Energy and Constellation are the competitive energy retailers. Each energy provider buys energy from the wholesale market (the generators) and then re-sells it to consumers (homeowners, renters, and businesses).

In most cases, the consumer, the homeowner, renter, or business, signs a contract with an energy provider for a specific energy plan. The basic energy plan details the rate class, the energy rate per kWh, the contract term length (6, 12, 24, 36 months), and other contract terms like cancellation fee policy.

What is energy choice?

Energy choice, also known as energy market deregulation, allows Columbus business owners to select their energy supplier. Ohio has been a deregulated market since January 1, 2001.

Columbus Commercial Electricity

Energy spend can be a significant line item on your businesses operating budget. In addition to investing in energy efficiency you can save money on your energy bills by shopping business energy suppliers and finding the lowest rate possible.

Energy pricing vary greatly based on how much energy your business uses, market conditions, and numerous other factors. It can get complex quickly.

You can quickly search energy rates for your business here. Our system combines market data and your business energy usage to find you the lowest rate possible.

Switch Electricity Providers in Columbus

Finding a new electricity provider in Columbus is simple with EnergyBot. Follow these simple steps to get the lowest electricity rate in Columbus.

Step 1: Shop Columbus electric companies and prices

Enter your zip code at the top of this page and you can quickly see plans from the top Columbus electric companies. For even better pricing use our data linking tool to pull in your historic usage from your utility.

Step 2: Review the plan details

Energy plans often have long confusing contracts. We don't like teaser rates and tricky terms, so we filter out the plans that trick customers into bill spikes. Each plan you see on our site has plan details. This breaks down the most important information about the plan into a way that is easy to understand.

Step 3: Confirm the switch to a new energy provider

Once you have decided on a new energy plan for your home business just follow the prompts to confirm. Once you're done, we give you dashboard to see the status of your contract.

Types of Energy Plans in Columbus

Columbus energy providers offer rates and plans with a range of options and terms. While you will see many types of plans for the most part they are in two categories: fixed-rate and variable rate.

Fixed-Rate Electricity Plans in Columbus

Fixed-rate plans will have a set price for the term of the contract. Regardless of weather, natural events, or market volatility, your rate will not change. In most cases, fixed-rate plans have a term length of 6, 12, 24, or 36 months. We recommend fixed-rate plans for most customers.

Variable-Rate Electricity Plans Columbus

Variable-rate plan rates may change on a monthly basis based on market factors. Variable-rate plans offer more flexibility but present more volatility in pricing. Price changes may impact your monthly electricity bill in the form of price hikes. In most cases, we do not recommend variable-rate plans.

Columbus Commercial Electric Rates

Rates updated daily

Provider
Term
Rate
AP Gas & Electric
1 month
5.06¢
AP Gas & Electric
3 months
6.06¢
AP Gas & Electric
6 months
6.08¢
AP Gas & Electric
12 months
6.27¢
Santanna Energy Services
6 months
6.32¢

About Columbus, OH

As of 2017, Columbus, Ohio ranked as the 14th largest city in the United States with a population of 879,170. With an open attitude and admired quality of life Columbus was recently ranked as one of the best U.S. cities to raise children (Business Week), one of the best places to retire (Forbes), and a best city for business (Market Watch).

Due to its stable economic growth and local government strategic planning, the Columbus metropolitan area serves as an excellent location for businesses. 

The City of Columbus has committed a sizable investment to revitalize Downtown Columbus, the region’s biggest job center, offering growth incentives, property improvements, as well as incentives, loans, and grants to support growing businesses. For small businesses, the Mayor and the City of Columbus have created economic development tools (in the form of loans and grants) to help local businesses grow and thrive.

With a wide variety of industries operating in Columbus, the local economy is not dominated by a single industry. As a result, the regional economy is well balanced – with major employers in education, technology, government, research, insurance and health care – including five Fortune 500 companies (including Nationwide Insurance) as well as The Ohio State University. 

Columbus Energy Profile

Ohio small businesses employed 2.1 million people and grew by 11,689 net jobs in the latest SUSB census in 2013. The 2.1 million employees represent 46.2% of the total employees in Ohio. In total there are 927,691 small businesses in Ohio making up 97.9% of the total businesses in the state.