Ohioans looking to lower their electric bills are told to find the right page of their bill, locate the “price to compare,” search a state website, compare fixed and variable rates, watch for fees and promotional traps, and remember to repeat the process later.

Do everything correctly and the estimated savings might be about $12 a month.

“Ohioans should not need a minor in electricity procurement just to keep their utility bills under control,” said Lindsey Short, managing director of energy and advocacy services for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “If the best customer protection we can offer is a scavenger hunt through rate plans and fine print to maybe save $12, the system has lost the plot.”

Shopping can help at the margins. But this is an absurd amount of homework to place on customers while the largest forces driving electric bills remain beyond their control.

Ohioans need transparency, accountability and real customer protection, not more homework. 7/14/2026