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How Ohio Businesses Can Cut Costs by Timing Their Supply Contracts

Bryan Miller — Shipley Energy Advisors

Electricity isn’t getting any cheaper — especially for the commercial and industrial businesses powering Ohio’s economy. What is improving, however, is how companies can buy it.

If your business is still paying the utility’s default Standard Service Offer (SSO) in Duke Energy Ohio, AES Ohio, AEP Ohio, or the northern FirstEnergy territories (Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company, Toledo Edison), you may be missing out on meaningful savings that are fully available today.

Ohio is a deregulated power market. That means companies can select a competitive supplier to secure better pricing and more control. For organizations with steady or large energy needs — manufacturers, distribution hubs, auto suppliers, medical buildings, schools, and municipalities — this is a real opportunity to improve margins.

Where the Savings Add Up

Utility Territory Typical C&I Savings vs. SSO Duke Energy Ohio ~8%–15% AES Ohio ~8%–15% AEP Ohio ~10%–20% FirstEnergy Region (OE, CEI, TE) ~10%–20%

Why Timing Matters

Wholesale power prices shift monthly. Capacity costs — a major driver of supply pricing — reset in multi-year cycles. Yet most businesses stick to standard 12- or 24-month agreements that ignore these dynamics. That’s where a more strategic approach makes an impact.

As a broker, I align supply terms with your required start month, target periods where forward pricing softens, and avoid renewal risk during volatile market windows. Instead of forcing a contract to fit the calendar, I look for the sweet spot where the market curve is most favorable — whether that’s 11, 15, 17, or 24 months.

The goal: lock in savings, avoid renewal in a volatile window, and create predictability in your operating budget.

The Local Bottom Line

Energy is a top-five controllable expense for most businesses. It deserves strategy. A timing-driven supply procurement plan turns electricity from a passive cost burden into a competitive financial advantage.

If you haven’t reviewed your accounts recently — that’s the first and easiest win.

Review Your Account

Biggest Savings Flag — Are You Still on the SSO?

If your accounts are currently on the UTILITY DEFAULT SSO, you likely have the highest potential for savings — often at the top end of the 8–20% range.

Other strong triggers that signal it’s time to shop:

  • Your contract ends in the next 3–9 months
  • Expanded operations or higher load recently
  • Multiple facilities with different utilities
  • Fiscal planning needs a predictable energy budget
  • You haven’t compared offers since before recent market changes

What to request when shopping:

  • Minimum 3 competitive quotes
  • Same-day pricing for fair comparison
  • Multiple term options (including off-cycle terms)
  • Clear breakdown of fixed vs. pass-through charges

Target outcome: 8–20% reduction in supply cost + better renewal timing control

Contact Shipley Energy today to explore electricity plans that fit your business’s needs and learn more strategies for managing your energy costs throughout the year.

Request a Quote

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