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Each Ohio utility has different net metering rules, rebate programs, and pitch angles. Selecting here loads the right calculator math and proposal template.
AEP Ohio
AEP Ohio · Columbus, Newark, Lancaster · central & eastern Ohio (61 counties, ~1.5M customers)
Net Energy Metering Service (NEMS) — net billing, not true net metering: imports billed at full retail (~16-18¢/kWh bundled), exports credited at the generation rate only (~5-11¢/kWh), monetary credit carries forward. Highest residential rates of any major Ohio utility (~18.6¢/kWh in 2023, climbing). AEP filed in late 2025 to weaken net metering further; PUCO denied the filing Jan 7, 2026 (Docket 25-0349-EL-ORD) — AEP could refile in the next five-year review cycle.
Lead with: Highest OH rates + denied 2025 NEM filing (refile risk) + winter resilience
Duke Energy Ohio
Duke Energy Ohio · Cincinnati metro & southwest Ohio (Hamilton, Butler, Clermont, Warren counties · ~750K customers)
Monthly net metering at the generation rate: solar offsets monthly usage 1:1 up to consumption, excess credited at the Rider RE (Retail Energy) rate ~$0.05/kWh, credits roll forward with an annual cash-out option. 25 kW residential system cap. Duke removed retail 1:1 net metering in North Carolina — got the change approved without the legally-required cost-benefit study, and the NC Court of Appeals upheld it in September 2024.
Lead with: Winter resilience + Duke's NC playbook (removed NC 1:1 NEM, courts upheld it)
AES Ohio
AES Ohio · Dayton metro & western Ohio (Montgomery, Greene, Miami, Clark counties · ~527K customers)
Formerly Dayton Power & Light (DP&L). Monthly net metering at the generation rate — 1:1 offset within the month, excess credited at the generation component, credits roll forward with an annual cash-out. 25 kW residential cap; one-time meter-exchange fee ~$95-130 to enroll. Rates ~16.4¢/kWh (2023). Hurricane Ike's 2008 remnants left 500,000+ AES (then DP&L) customers without power for 2.5 weeks — the strongest resilience anchor in the Ohio market.
Lead with: Hurricane Ike 2008 memory (2.5-week outage) + generation-rate NEM spread
Ohio Edison
Ohio Edison (FirstEnergy) · Akron, Youngstown, Canton, Warren, Mansfield · northeast & central Ohio (~1M customers)
FirstEnergy company — shared net metering with The Illuminating Company and Toledo Edison: each exported kWh offsets delivered energy 1:1 up to the amount delivered during the billing period, excess credited at the generation component (~5¢/kWh), credits roll forward. 25 kW residential cap. FirstEnergy supply rates rose ~27-28% in 2025 (PJM capacity-cost pass-through; PJM capacity costs spiked 833% in 2024). Distribution rate changes took effect March 1, 2026; storm-cost recovery runs through 2050.
Lead with: FirstEnergy 27-28% supply hikes + winter resilience + generation-rate NEM spread
The Illuminating Company
The Illuminating Company (FirstEnergy) · Greater Cleveland · Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, Ashtabula, Geauga counties (~750K customers)
FirstEnergy company (also known as CEI) — shared net metering with Ohio Edison and Toledo Edison: each exported kWh offsets delivered energy 1:1 up to the amount delivered during the billing period, excess credited at the generation component (~5¢/kWh), credits roll forward. 25 kW residential cap. FirstEnergy supply rates rose ~27-28% in 2025 (PJM capacity-cost pass-through). Greater Cleveland's Lake Erie weather pattern drives severe winter storms — the December 2022 storm came close to forcing statewide rolling blackouts.
Lead with: FirstEnergy 27-28% supply hikes + Cleveland lake-effect winter weather
Toledo Edison
Toledo Edison (FirstEnergy) · Toledo, Sandusky, Fremont · Lucas, Wood, Ottawa, Erie counties (~310K customers)
FirstEnergy company (smallest of the three Ohio FirstEnergy utilities) — shared net metering with Ohio Edison and The Illuminating Company: each exported kWh offsets delivered energy 1:1 up to the amount delivered during the billing period, excess credited at the generation component (~5¢/kWh), credits roll forward. 25 kW residential cap. FirstEnergy supply rates rose ~27-28% in 2025 (PJM capacity-cost pass-through). Toledo's Lake Erie weather pattern drives severe lake-effect winter storms.
Lead with: FirstEnergy 27-28% supply hikes + Toledo lake-effect winter weather