The two halves of an Ohio solar kWh
A kWh you consume yourself
Offsets the full stack: the 10.97 cent generation price, 3.48 cents of distribution, plus transmission and riders. AEP Ohio's own fact sheet averages the all-in bill at about 20.5 cents per kWh.
A kWh you export
Credits only at the generation component, about 11 cents, with nothing for distribution or transmission. Credits roll forward forever and an annual refund can be requested in writing, but they are tied to the premise and lost if you move.
Current residential rates
AEP Ohio residential rates are shown below, from the utility's published tariffs and the public Utility Rate Database. Rates vary by plan, season, and usage and change over time.
| Plan | Energy charge | Fixed / basic |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Schedule RS, standard service offer supply | A price to compare of 10.97 cents/kWh for generation (July to September 2026, reset quarterly by auction) plus 3.48 cents distribution and transmission riders on top. AEP Ohio's own fact sheet puts the average residential bill at $181.51 for 885 kWh, about 20.5 cents/kWh all-in. | $13.50/month customer charge |
Ohio is fully deregulated: the price to compare changes every quarter with auction results (a June 2025 auction jump added about $27 a month to generation costs), and most households can shop supply. On the delivery side, the April 2026 rate case actually cut AEP Ohio's annual revenue by about $58.7 million, with roughly $105 million of tax act refunds flowing back over 18 months.
Deregulated, and climbing since 2019
AEP Ohio (Ohio Power Company)'s average residential electricity price has risen from 13.69 cents per kWh in 2015 to 19.33 cents in 2024, an increase of about 41 percent, or roughly 3.9 percent per year. The chart shows AEP Ohio's average residential price by year. Hover any point for the exact figure.
The supply-only export credit
Ohio's net metering rule is the fine print that decides the solar math here: exported power is credited only at the generation component of the standard service offer, about the 11 cent price to compare, with no credit for the distribution and transmission portions of the bill. Credits roll forward continuously and never expire, an annual true up refund can be requested in writing, but credits are tied to the premise and can be lost if you move or close the account. Customers who shop for supply can alternatively negotiate net metering terms with their competitive supplier at any price. The practical effect is that self consumed solar offsets the full 20 cent all-in rate while exports earn roughly half that, which rewards sizing to your own load rather than overbuilding to export.
Self-consumption is the strategy
AEP Ohio rates have risen 59 percent since their 2019 low on EIA data, and a June 2025 auction jump added about 27 dollars a month to generation costs, so the consumption side of the solar case keeps strengthening.
But Ohio's supply-only export credit halves the value of surplus power, so the winning design covers your own daytime load without overbuilding to export. Shoppers add a wrinkle: a competitive supplier may offer its own net metering terms at any price, which is worth checking before assuming the default. Get a site-specific quote sized to your actual usage curve.
What rising AEP Ohio rates could cost you
AEP Ohio rates have risen about 3.9% per year. Enter your bill to see what that pace of increase could compound to over time, and what you have likely already absorbed. This is an estimate, not a guarantee.
Estimate only. Projects your current bill forward at AEP Ohio's historical average rate increase (3.9% per year, from EIA data); it assumes your usage stays the same except for any add-ons you select. Actual rates depend on your usage, rate plan, and the utility's future filings, and are not guaranteed. This is general information, not financial advice.
AEP Ohio service area
AEP Ohio serves 61 Ohio counties across nearly 1,000 communities, centered on Columbus and the Gahanna headquarters, with zones reaching the Canton area, eastern, and southern Ohio, over 10,374 square miles..
To confirm whether a specific address is served by AEP Ohio, check your electricity bill. A ZIP lookup tool is coming to this site.
Full data and sources
Per-utility prices are computed from EIA Form 861 (bundled residential revenue divided by sales), which reconciles to the EIA's published figures. These are public-domain U.S. government data.
| Year | AEP Ohio (c/kWh) |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 13.69 |
| 2016 | 13.26 |
| 2017 | 12.8 |
| 2018 | 12.46 |
| 2019 | 12.19 |
| 2020 | 12.63 |
| 2021 | 13.01 |
| 2022 | 15.48 |
| 2023 | 18.63 |
| 2024 | 19.33 |
Sources: EIA Form 861, Sales to Ultimate Customers (2015 to 2024) · PUCO Energy Choice Ohio, price to compare · AEP Ohio, July 2026 tariff book · PUCO, net metering resource page · AEP Ohio, 2025 fact sheet
FAQ
How does net metering work with AEP Ohio?
Exports are credited at the generation component of the standard service offer only, about the 11 cent price to compare, with no credit for distribution or transmission. Credits carry forward continuously, never expire, and an annual true-up refund can be requested in writing, but they are tied to the premise and can be lost if you move.
What is the price to compare?
The auction-set generation rate for customers who have not chosen a competitive supplier, 10.97 cents per kWh for July through September 2026. It resets quarterly, and it is also the rate Ohio net metering credits are based on.
Are AEP Ohio rates going up?
Generation moves with quarterly auctions, and a June 2025 auction raised typical generation costs about 27 dollars a month. Delivery went the other way: the April 2026 rate case cut AEP Ohio's annual revenue by about 58.7 million dollars, including roughly 105 million dollars of tax refunds flowing back over 18 months.
Should I size my solar system to export extra power?
Generally no in AEP Ohio territory. Since exports earn roughly half the all-in retail rate, systems sized to your own consumption capture the most value, and Ohio's rule allows sizing up to 120 percent of your annual usage.