What to Ask Your Energy Provider

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As an energy consumer, you need to know what questions to ask your electric provider in order to get the best service and save money at the same time. For people in Ohio, the chief concern for a prospective energy provider is whether or not they are certified by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), which is required in the state of Ohio.

Asking these questions before you actually sign on to a contract with an electric company is important. You’ll want to know what you are getting into, and this can help you decide which electric provider you want to choose.

  • Are you a PUCO-certified supplier? (This is necessary in the state of Ohio.)
  • What is the price per kilowatt-hour (kWh)?
  • Is the price per kilowatt-hour fixed, or does it change? If so, how does it change?
  • Are there built-in price increases or decreases?
  • Do I pay my utility bill once or twice per month?
  • Is there any sort of budget plan?
  • Does the price depend on how much electricity I use, or is the price fixed?
  • How long will the plan last? Will it be month-to-month, a yearly contract, or something different?
  • What happens once my contract expires?
  • Do you charge early cancellation fees?
  • Where would my electricity come from? Some utility companies offer the option to have your electricity come from green energy sources like solar or wind power.

If you have any questions about your electric bill or your electric service, call you local utility company. If they can’t answer your questions or resolve your issue, call PUCO’s Consumer Call Center at (800) 686–PUCO (7826).