The price to keep your home warm this winter will likely increase. But taking time to choose natural gas and electricity suppliers can save consumers big bucks.
Energy prices are volatile because of supply and demand factors. Electric rates in Ohio could rise during the winter up to 8% this season. Forecasts for the cost of natural gas show an increase of 6%. They could also go down by 9%.
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, or PUCO, allows consumers to shop and select individual suppliers. Suppliers provide natural gas and electricity to utility companies such as Toledo Edison and Columbia Gas. “The first step is to get your bill so you know who your provider is. The other thing you’re going to look for on your bill is what’s called a price to compare. This includes the dollars you are paying for electric or natural gas that you are currently using,” said PUCO spokesperson Brittany Waugaman.
PUCO website (energychoice.ohio.gov) lists all energy suppliers to compare prices, contract length and rates that are fixed or variable. “You want to look for a fixed rate as opposed to variable, meaning you can have one price for one month and then the next month they change the price.” Some suppliers offer incentives such as gift cards but avoid selecting a higher rate for an incentive that costs more in the long run.
One homeowner who used the PUCO website described the process as “confusing” and complained the energy choice website wasn’t user friendly. “We’re always working to improve our websites,” Waugaman replied. “We do a lot of in person outreach where we’re more than happy to basically in person or virtually sit down and walk people through the website and give them that step by step instruction.” The PUCO help center is available during weekday business hours at 806-867-7826.
The ability to select a supplier is available to homeowners and small businesses. Some communities have opted to join together to buy power in bulk. A map of communities is available at pco.ohio.gov.
The savings of choosing a supplier can add up. “You can shop for the generation or supply portion of your natural gas or electric bill. Usually that portion of your bill is about 50% of the total bill,” according to Waugaman. “If you’re able to save money on that part of it, you can save money over the long run, too.”
In addition to PUCO, local community assistance information is available through Pathway Toledo, Area Agency on Aging and United Way 2-1-1.
