We know there’s been a lot of chatter about changes to your electric bill. This is happening because of a few separate things going on with utility bill rates. As electric costs change, AEP Ohio’s priority remains being transparent with our customers while keeping bills fair, predictable and easy to understand.
We’re working hard to push for changes in this process so things are clearer for you and everyone else we serve. Ultimately, the impact to your electric bill each month continues to depend heavily on how much electricity you use and where you get your electric generation supply from.
What Goes Into Your Bill
Generation, transmission and distribution are the three primary components of an electric bill. AEP Ohio is a distribution utility, but a customer’s AEP Ohio bill includes all three parts. With approval from state regulators, all three components change regularly because of the way Ohio’s electric regulations are structured.
- Generation charges include the cost to generate electricity — power plants, solar farms, etc.
- Transmission charges cover the costs of the high-voltage lines that move electricity from generation sources to communities.
- Distribution charges cover the local poles and wires in communities.
Ohioans can choose to receive their generation supply from a Competitive Retail Electric Service (CRES) provider or remain on AEP Ohio’s Standard Service Offer (SSO) rate, where generation charges are passed through, dollar for dollar, with no markup.
As of March 23, our records indicate that you receive the generation portion of your bill from a CRES provider or live in a community that uses a CRES provider through governmental aggregation. Any changes to this part of your bill are not related to AEP Ohio.
Transmission and Distribution Rate Changes
All residential customers will experience an increase beginning with the April billing cycle due to the standard annual update to transmission rates under the FERC- and PUCO-approved formula. Beginning in April, the average residential AEP Ohio customer who uses 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) a month will see the following changes, regardless of whether they shop for their generation supply or are on the SSO rate:
- Transmission costs increasing by about $7.90.
- Distribution costs decreasing by about $0.52.
The net impact is an increase of approximately $7.38 per month for the average AEP Ohio customer using a CRES provider. It’s important to note that this increase is separate from any rate changes from your CRES provider, which AEP Ohio has no control over, that may cause your bill to increase or decrease by a different amount.
Additionally, these changes are separate from AEP Ohio’s base distribution rate case under review by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). That case proposes an initial overall decrease of $1.22 per month for the distribution portion of AEP Ohio customers’ bills.
Investing in the Grid
AEP Ohio continues to invest in new and modernized transmission infrastructure to ensure the reliability and resilience of the electric grid. Many existing high-voltage transmission facilities were built decades ago and require investments to stay in service. These investments are critical to:
- Strengthening system reliability.
- Reducing the risk of outages.
- Protecting the grid.
- Supporting economic growth.
You Can Shop for Generation
Customers can visit EnergyChoice.Ohio.gov to compare CRES providers and their rates to AEP Ohio’s SSO rate.
We encourage you to take advantage of our bill assistance tool by completing a quick, 2-minute survey to see which programs you qualify for — there are options available for everyone.
My bill is significantly higher in the last 12 months than the previous r ye as rs I’ve lived in this house.
As expected.. cha ching!
So what do we do? You hold the keys, and can hold us hostage to increase profits. How does the cost of transmission change that much? Sounds like the Energy Billionaires need a way to keep up the oil industry!
Always increases! Looks like I will have to shop around!
Oh cool! Another rate hike. I guess you guys know that we all get annual raises and you want your hands in our pockets.
Rates keep increasing yet your service does not improve. Outages and inconveniences still occur. I have to believe these increases do not pay for infrastructure upgrades but for more bloated salaries.
From a retiree on a fixed income, thanks for nothing.
If I understand the NEW charges, you are now penalizing us for using a provider that is outside of AEP? The new charge does not apply to customers who get their supply via AEP? We are already strapped with the ridiculous increases in prices and now you’re interfering with our ability to seek cheaper suppliers. This seems punitive, anti-competitive and potentially against the rules.
Stop increasing fixed costs to customers.
EVERY time I turn around my bill is going up! Dumb charges over and over. You guys make up some title for them and slap them on. When you guys profit millions to billions a year but you keep squeezing the life out of us middle classes! It’s RIDICULOUS! STOP! The whole problem is you and the top don’t want to take any less than what you’re used to while us on the bottom struggle. What a disappointment to humanity.
You are ripping up off
There has to be something you can do about single retired senior citizens. We are always supposed to just gracefully take whatever is thrown at us and sometimes it gets to be too much.
well i know i didn’t approve an increase in transmission cost of $7.90, so who did without my permission? the electric company is arbitrarily allowed to bill EVERY customer any amount increase they want? that should be illegal…. and a crime.
A little quick math – AEP has 5.6 million customers, and they’re stealing monthly an additional $7.90 that we the customer has no say in. that’s an additional $44,240.000 million dollars EVERY MONTH!!! that’s greed, and should be a crime, maybe it already is.
The cost of all the extra riders is getting out of hand and the PUCO needs to stop allowing them. I a business has to use computers to conduct their every day business they don’t tack on a bunch of riders to cover the cost if upgrades to the computers.
Useless…the rates continue to climb
Where does this stop? You say the increase will be $7.38 for the average customer. Is this increase a total amount or based on what? My home is all electric and in the winter I use 5,000 plus kilowatts per month. Years ago I had a chance to switch to gas but chose to stay with electric. I wish I had but the chance is no longer available. I have done everything possible to cut down on electricity use but my bill has almost doubled from last year with less use of electricity. I have a three bedroom ranch of approx 1800 sq ft and my bill has been reaching almost $100 a month. How do you expect retired people can make it with such high electric bills?
Moraannette54@gmail.com
Thanks for letting me know me know about the changes, my self don’t know much about this things, I’m 71 years old, I know I’m late paying my bill and aBout to lose my house . I thank you, I’m just wating to resive my asocial Security to pay you. Thanks; God Blee
These changes and increases are really confusing. And I think some company that I thought had dropped me auto generated me into a new CRES provider and I am just now realizing it which I think, means that the budget payment I signed up for got canceled. I am so confused about all of this. I could use some help with all of this because bills are going up but what I make at my job is not and I need help.
Does the Transmission cost increase apply regardless of if I use a CRES providers rate or AEP Ohio’s SSO rate?
So basically you will be penalized if you don’t use AEP SSO. Is that what this means?
Are you kidding, another increase. How is this even justified, no matter what we use or not the infra cost is so high.
I am disgusted with the price gouging by AEP. My bill for two months has never been higher, and I don’t believe for a minute there are good reasons for it. The only reason you are doing it is because customers have no choice but to use your company. I can’t wait for the day that you are held accountable for screwing people.
Thank you.
How much of this increase is due to useage demand increases from AI data centers in and out of Ohio?
I use under 500 kw per month, would my increase be less than the average of $7.38 or is this like a water bill where I pay a minimum regardless of my use?
Didn’t know that I was with CRES providers.
Please change my generated supply service from (CRES) to (SSO)…..
How do i tell what Aep charges verse what i picked from apples to apples
So is this new increase only affecting customers that use CRES for generation? If I were to cancel my CRES and switch back to AEP SSO would that save money because I also have Solar Panels? If so this seems like an unfair punishment for CRES users that find a better rate, which is supposed to be free to do.
My opinion.
I do not know your business and/of how it works. You are going to do what you feel necessary.
I would hope you have cut all extra costs such as scholarships, donations, reduce advertising, reduce bonus programs, etc.
Increase fees while customers are under distribution contract is sketchy.
The USA dollar value is decreasing everywhere. Gonna see lots of businesses, restaurants, foreclosures, repossessions and more citizens dependent upon the government and states for basic needs.
I have never requested to recieve services from anyone other then AEP Ohio. I’m not sure about these other said providers nor have I inquired of changing my service providers. Why you are increasing my bill is not because of anything I have done just so we are clear.
Debbie Mason
Hi Debbie,
You’ll want to review your paper bill or log into your account to see who your generation provider is. If you use a Choice provider and are paying more than $0.11/kWh, you may be able to save money by switching to AEP Ohio’s SSO or a different Choice supplier.
These bills are ridiculous doubled since smart meter put in. Social security residents have to do with out food for power. I was cloths every other week only two of us. These bills highway robbery. My February bill $604. 10 years ago highest bill maybe $225 -$250. I’m on the average billing too. Told me it would go up 20 dollars a month maybe.
Why not lower rates? Puco seems to not care how much profit you make off of ohioans . These increases while giving data centers a free ride will hopefully end up a lawsuits to help ohioans not drain us.
confused? does this mean if you don”t use AEP rates vs another CRES provider you pay the $7.38? but if you use AEP rates you don”t?
I seem to remember that deregulation was to benefit the consumer – wrong?? I have been using other suppliers for quite a few years for better rates and I find the usually 60%+ of my monthly bill are the AEP charges and now will be even more? We
have lived in this home for more than 55 years and you still charge me $10 per month for a “costumer/meter”every month – do the math ! It is not that I can afford to pay my monthly charges it a point for the people that can’t and don’t know about monthly budgeting- I feel sorry for them every Summer!
O
How much of this cost increase has to do with all the new data centers that have been built? Hilliard, Ohio area and HWY 23 South. I thought the US government said that we will not be paying for all the new infrastructure and high electricity costs. This sounds like we are ultimately paying for this?!
I have always understood my bill – UNTIL AEP started adding charge after charge after charge onto my bill. I would TOTALLY leave AEP and go to MIDWEST in St Marys if I had the opportunity. So PUCO approves these increases? We all know the truth by now – OHIO’S ENTIRE GOVERNMENT AND ANYONE THAT DEALS WITH THEM OR ARE IN ANY WAY PART OF THEM IS THE PROBLEM, PERIOD…………… I am positive that endless amounts of money have been paid to this so called organization to get whatever increases and fees that your company or any other utility in this state of Ohio decide to charge us, the residents. I pray for a FAR BETTER WAY TO GET ELECTRICITY THAN CONSTANTLY PAYING ENDLESS AMOUNTS OF MONEY TO A COMPANY THAT CONTINUES TO RAKE IN MORE AND MORE PROFIT YEAR AFTER YEAR – and my income continues to dwindle as this thing called government steals endlessly in taxes and any new way they can come up with and utility providers as well seem to think that the consumer is a FEE FREE BANK PROVIDED BY WE, THE CUSTOMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am confused. The way I read this is the my bill is going up by $7.38 because I have a CRES provider. Is that true? If not, this communication is overly complicated and misleading.
What, exactly, is driving the increase in cost? Please provide a breakdown showing what was submitted to the PUCO to get them to approve the increase.
Thank you,
Pete
Yes I have noticed an increase in my bills. It was brought to my notice about the rate height and I changed my service to another supplier.
Why do I have to pay for all the new transmission lines for your new customers? The only reason these transmission/distribution charges could be going up this much over the last few years is infrastructure build-out. Housing developments and new industry are popping up all over your service area, and I’m paying you a lot more so you can get new customers. Seems like a bad deal for ME! I’m on your advisory email list. Whoever the moron is that decided to test the word “affordability” when a rate increase is coming the next day needs to be fired. It will save you some more money to pass onto your shareholders.
What power distribution is more reliable? AEP Ohio SSO or CRES provider?
I would like the most reliable.
How do I change from receiving energy from a CRES provider to AEP only?
So what you are saying is, because I try to get a better rate and try to keep my costs down and have to use an outside supplier to achieve that, you are penalizing me and charging me more so I can’t save money!!
Why are the transmission costs going up so much? It seems to me $7.90 per month is a large, large increase, especially for retirees.
I can’t wait until free energy comes in.
Penalizing customers who take advantage of PUCO’s Apples-to-Apples comparison charts is nonsense. No evidence is being provided that transmission costs are higher to AEP for electricity from alternate suppliers. Sounds like sour grapes to me and AEP’s intent to “stick it” to those customers.
Me gustaría depe der solo del servicio SSO de Aep Ohio por ser mas conveniente por favor ayúdenme en este proceso ya que recibo muchas cartas y visitas departe de personas haciéndose pasar por compañías de CRES
It feels like AEP is punishing consumers for using a CRES. Your rates are always higher than the rates I’ve found utilizing a CRES. If you want us to stay with AEP, why not make tier rates more reasonable. This just feels wrong! Unless, of course, I’m misreading this article.
Chatter??? My bill was 700 dollars in February. I am a senior and need assistance with this. I believe I am in an aggregate done by the county commissioners but I do not know who that is and how to change it. I believe it is high time we had some informational meetings because with these data centers we need to know where we stand…and how much those of us ion a fixed income expect to pay. We need to information and assistance.
If it’s costing more to get the electricity needed for our area because of the massive consumption and infrastructure upgrades needed by the industry and data centers being built, it is your responsibility to include that cost in the initial quotes before construction begins. It is also your responsibility to keep that rising cost firmly in the laps of the companies that have created the issue, not the homeowners who see no profit from these companies.
If those companies need to pass that cost along to their consumers, at least it will be spread over a very large consumer base that is choosing to purchase their product, not those of us here that really have no choice.
Thank you
So you are punishing me by using another distributor.
I want to see the comparison
i still do not understand “why” the increase…..i understand a get my ‘electricity’ from a CRES?, yet i do not undersatnd why that results in this increase?
Do not want to fund AI centers. They should take care of own electricity needs. I do not care if we have AI.
If AEP would bring their kwh rate down to at least match AEP Energy, I would choose AEP who delivers my electricity. Howerver I am retired and on a fixed income, too much to get finacial assistance. Every company in America is killing the middle class.
I’m being fed up with these increases. When is it going to stop? My bill is out of control compared to previous years, even though I use less. Charge the companies that are requiring new data centers and using massive amounts of electric causing early and excessive infrastructure upgrades to be needed.
This is ridiculous. Stop increasing our bills. This is ruining our communities. CARE ABOUT US PEOPLE STOP RAISING RATES!!!!!!
Why am I paying more than your customers for distribution and transmission ?
What do I have to do to change my bill back to AEP
Why are the distribution costs increasing? Are the distribution rates based on KWH used or are the a flat rate?
I am currently locked in to a CRES provider and will pay a penalty fee if I leave the plan before my contract expires. You have not provided any heads up on this fee. Do you plan to compensate the fee for leaving this plan as now it will cost me more to stay in the current plan I have due to your increased fees that you provided no notification of. Thank you.
Hi Jereld. AEP Ohio doesn’t charge penalty fees to change to our Standard Service Offer. Any fees charged would be by the current generation provider with whom you have a contract.
I know nothing about a CRES provider. I didn’t sign up for that to my knowledge. I thought I was on AEP’s Ohio standard service. Please clarify.
Thank you
This is getting out hand .
This hurts senior citizens and low income families.
This is an issue that needs examining again
Thanks utilities commissioner for not looking out for us
Does this mean if we stop using a CRES provider, we not not be billed the additional $7.95/month?
So how much increase is the CEO of Aep gonna get from all these increases on our electric bills? 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
What was AEP’s cost for share buyback, Executive compensation and dividends in 2025? Compared to the amount of residential customers pay each month? Not manufacturing or the data centers that get a huge discount compared to the retail customers?
Money-hungry, greedy, fat pigs that leech off society. I hope this company rots.
So while the average American is trying to save money by making smart energy choices by choosing an alternative energy supplier, AEP says “Since you’re not playing with our ball, we are going to penalize you for that”? The amount of times I have received notices of increases to my bill makes me sick. It frustrates me to no end that there isn’t another option for energy suppliers in our area…..and you know it so you keep passing along increases despite record profits yere after year. Not a satisfied or happy customer. Your “fees” and ancillary charges surpass my energy supplier cost by almost 1.5 times. You’re company seems like an unregulated machine that does not care about the end user at all.
This makes absolutely no sense. If I choose a supplier to save money on usage I now have to pay an extra 7.90 per month in transmission. The service and delivery charges are already higher than my usage. I own a home in Florida. Service and delivery charges are a fraction of what AEP charges. I guess other states are much better at budgeting and not overcharging than Ohio is. It’s very sad to see how greedy you’ve become even though you say it’s not about profits. What a scam!
We’re all sick of all the bogus ass hikes. Build those data centers though. Puco is a joke and so are
So basically, AEP is putting the screws to customers who are CRES or live in communities that are CRES, such as ours. Since we aren’t using your generation and high costs, you want to make sure that you have a way of make us pay. I have already paid for your outages by losing all the food in my fridge and freezer when your equipment went down in December 2024. After I called, i was told I could file s claim but the nomenclature makes it clear you assume NO responsibility.
Solar here I come
All electric bills continuing to increase a household of 2 is paying more than 230 dollars a month which is over 2300 per year. I’m glad for the transparency so that I can continue to look for affordable means of energy and potentially be rid of service providers all together. It’s either time to vote or educate ourselves on what is possible to avoid these increases year over year.
Why do we even have the puco. There not for the people anymore it’s all about making these big companies more richer. It’s a down right shame.
Reporting fraud
“Cam”- Arrived at my residence claiming to be from AEP and wanting me to send him and email of my statement/usage
This was done during my work hours
Thanks for letting us know, Joey. We’re not ever going to show up at your door and demand to see a copy of your bill. We’ve shared your message with our customer team and they may reach out to you for more information. (We’ve also deleted your address here before publishing.)
Yeah this monthly increase from AEP for customers who use a CRES provider is just another way for AEP to “SCREW” the customer. If your rates would be competitive I would have stayed with AEP for my electric generation as well. But your “NOT” competitive. AEP is just greedy.
So, for no apparent reason or any real explanation, it will cost $7.38 more each month to push the the same amount of electricity through the same wires as last month. Is there any explanation? Is there any reason except profit? Maybe pass all these increases to the ones that use the most, like data centers?
Wow, don’t you people make enough money already! Guess this came from the big outage cause you guys didn’t do your job properly! Soon we’ll be using candles and kerosene lamps. 7,8,5 it adds up to I don’t have any more money left!
Put in writing and in the mail
Trying to keep costs as cheap as possible
Is this due to data centers and large users on these same transmission lines? Are these same costs being passed on to all users – residential and commercial?
soooo – I am being penalized for using a CRES generation provider by increasing the transmission and distribution costs i am already paying for ?! WHY?
The link indicated “Get the details,” but no details are present. Please explain the details of the need/reason for the increased transmission costs for CRES customers.
Screw the retried on fixed income.
Would it benefit me to opt out of the CRES agreement and go to SCO ?
Why aren’t data centers paying for these constant increases we are getting? The average working American does not qualify for any aid and gets blindsided every few months by their gas, electric and water providers. The worst part of it is that we have zero say in who those providers are. Where does it end?
Would I be better off getting out of the CRES agreement and go to SCO ?
This goes against what Cres is suppose to be about. We were by law able to chise a better provider now you are charging use for it. We the people do not want this. We should be able to vote on this. Not you just make a decision.
When is the state of Ohio going to test the meter’s that used to charge for the amount of kilowatts you use because there’s no policeing of the meters to know weather they are accurate or not
OK, now explain why the bills are going up. Funny how our residential electric costs increased when the data centers started to built.
So when you ask for feedback, you don’t want anything critical posted? Why do I have to pay for all the new transmission lines for your new customers? The only reason these transmission/distribution charges could be going up this much over the last few years is infrastructure build-out. Housing developments and new industry are popping up all over your service area, and I’m paying you a lot more so you can get new customers. Seems like a bad deal for ME!
The rising costs of transmission and distribution charges has to end. The majority of my monthly bills charge more for T &D then my actual energy usage and now, your announcing yet another increase for these services. Many folks are on fixed incomes that doesn’t increase to meet the ever rising charges that AEP continues to impose. When will this stop?
The way your notice reads this rate increase will only be for CRES customers. Will the increase not be applied to customers using AEP’s standard offer? If so, does this mean someone’s costs may be lower with your standard (higher) rate than when using a generation rate that has a lower KWR cost?
When using a Competitive Retail Electric Service, AEP will be adding $7.38 to the bill, correct? I assume we need figure that in when comparing total kilowatt cost total use with AEP .
So are only CRES customers seeing the increase in transmission cost?
I have a question regarding this rate change related to the “Transmission Rider Impact”. You state that the rate will increase for customers using a CRES provider. Is there a corresponding rate increase for those who use AEP Ohio’s Standard Service Offer (SSO) as well? If so, what is that rate change? If not, why not? Thanks.
I can not agree with the increase in the cost of electricity.With the cost of utilities, house payments, and food,everyone is struggling to make ends meet. There seems to be no end in sight. Just don’t know how people will make it.
Whose pockets is this $7.38 going to? AEP? the distributor? Politicians? What is it being used for?
Question 1: For the sake of clarity…you are saying that regardless of whether I use a CRES or NOT, I can expect an average increase of ~$7.38 per month?
Question 2: If your answer to that question is, “yes,” why do you then say: “The net impact is an increase of approximately $7.38 per month for the average AEP Ohio customer using a CRES provider.”?
Question 3: Again if question 1 answer is “yes,” why don’t you just reiterate that the increase is for all AEP Ohio customers?
I had a gentleman also appear at my door on 3/262026. He had a “copy” of my bill and wanted me to print off my copy to verify what he had. I refused to do so!
You did the right thing, Bonnie! AEP Ohio will never come to your door and ask to see your bill.
1. Does AEP Ohio have any discounts for senior citizens on electric bills?
2. Does Ohio have any discounts on electric bills for disabled citizens?
Clear as mud.
Some call it greed.
I call it typical, get it while you can bs
You’re explaining how bills are structured, but not answering the real question customers are asking.
Why are AEP customers effectively paying around $0.10 per kWh for delivery (distribution & transmission), while nearby electric cooperatives are delivering power for closer to $0.02 per kWh?
That’s a 5x difference for the same basic service, delivering electricity to a home.
Customers cannot choose their distribution provider, so this isn’t something we can shop around for. It deserves a clear explanation.
What specifically is driving that cost difference?
Why should existing customers pay for your infrastructure? You have plenty enough to pay for it and eventually it will not only pay for itself , but will make AEP even more money. Y’all are greedy IMO.