Governmental Aggregation for Ohio Small Businesses

Updated September 27, 2026Ohio Commercial Energy editorial teamHow we review content Book a free 15-min bill review

The short answer

In governmental aggregation, a city, township or county picks a generation supplier for its residents and small businesses as a group. In opt-out programs, non-mercantile business accounts (700,000 kWh a year or less) that aren't under a supplier contract are enrolled automatically unless they opt out within at least 21 days of the notice's postmark. Mercantile accounts join only by opting in. Ohio law guarantees a penalty-free exit at least every three years, and the largest programs currently advertise no exit fee at all. Whether aggregation beats a negotiated contract depends on your usage profile, the term you want and whether you need a green product.

Related pages: for the default price every aggregation offer should be measured against, see the price to compare for businesses; for why businesses on city or co-op power aren't included, see municipal and cooperative areas; and for the 2025 law's renewal-notice rules for supplier contracts, see House Bill 15 explained.

How opt-out aggregation works for a business

The community authorizes a program by ordinance or resolution and selects a supplier. Aggregators, like brokers, must be certified by PUCO.
You get an opt-out notice. It must describe the price (fixed or variable), term, service dates and an itemized list of fees, including any early termination penalty, and state your right to opt out every three years. You have at least 21 days from the postmark to respond.
The utility enrolls you on a meter-read date and mails a confirmation. You have seven days from that notice's postmark to cancel through the utility.
The supplier's name appears in the generation section of your bill. The utility still delivers power, restores outages and bills delivery.

Who gets enrolled:

Account	Treatment
Non-mercantile (700,000 kWh a year or less), on default service	Enrolled automatically unless it opts out
Any account under contract with a certified supplier	Excluded from automatic enrollment; may join voluntarily
Mercantile (over 700,000 kWh a year or part of a national account)	Only with prior, affirmative consent
Account that opted out, or is on PUCO's Do Not Aggregate list	Excluded
Municipal-utility or co-op account	Not eligible — these customers can't shop

The major Ohio programs

Program	Area	Supplier	Price and term (where published)	Leaving
NOPEC	240+ member communities, mostly Northeast Ohio	NextEra Energy Services, from June 2026 meter reads, three-year term	Check NOPEC's current rates page	NOPEC advertises no early termination fees
Clean Energy Columbus	AEP Ohio accounts in Columbus (not Division of Power)	AEP Energy, 100% renewable	10.01¢/kWh fixed, June 2026–May 2027; renewed annually	No fee to opt out
City of Cincinnati	Duke Energy Ohio accounts in Cincinnati; small commercial locations under 700,000 kWh a year	Dynegy, 100% green	10.44¢/kWh for May–November 2026; contract through May 2029	Leave anytime without cancellation charges
NOAC (Northwest Ohio Aggregation Coalition)	Toledo and nearby communities; non-mercantile Toledo Edison GS accounts	Dynegy through May 2026; confirm the current supplier	9.75¢/kWh fixed ran through May 2026 — check current terms with your city	Check current terms
SOPEC	About 40 member communities, including Cleveland, Dayton, Upper Arlington and Gahanna	AEP Energy	Community-specific rates on SOPEC's site	Check current terms

Two cautions when reading this table. First, AEP Energy is a competitive supplier, not AEP Ohio the utility — an AEP Energy line on your bill means you're in a program or contract, not on default service. Second, compare each price against your business price to compare, not the residential one. In FirstEnergy territory, small-business GS default prices average about 9.38–9.45¢ for June 2026–May 2027; Duke's Rate DM first block is about 11.36¢; AEP Ohio shows your figure on the bill.

Aggregation and a supplier contract signed through a broker

A supplier contract takes precedence. Accounts under contract with a certified supplier are excluded from automatic enrollment (R.C. 4928.20(H)).
Leaving aggregation for a contract. Your new supplier enrolls you and the switch happens on a meter-read date, usually within one to two billing cycles. The statute only guarantees a free exit every three years, but NOPEC, Clean Energy Columbus and Cincinnati currently advertise no exit fee — confirm your program's terms in the opt-out notice before you sign.
Leaving a contract for aggregation. Ask your supplier about early termination fees first; accounts with a supplier can join an aggregation but aren't enrolled automatically.
After a contract ends. If the account returns to default service, it may be picked up in a later opt-out enrollment. Opt out again, or join PUCO's Do Not Aggregate list, if you don't want that.

A broker can't enroll you in or remove you from an aggregation; it can only help you compare the program's terms against contract offers.

When aggregation wins — and when it doesn't

Situation	Aggregation tends to fit	A negotiated contract tends to fit
One small account, simple usage	Yes — no paperwork, and the big programs advertise no exit fee	Savings may be small relative to the effort
Want a fixed budget for two to three years	Program prices can reset (Cincinnati's price period is May–November 2026; Columbus renews annually)	Yes — term matched to your budget
Flat, round-the-clock load (high load factor)	One class-wide price ignores your profile	Yes — a supplier prices your own capacity tag and load shape
Peaky load concentrated on summer afternoons	Yes — class-average pricing can favor you	Your capacity tag may raise the price
Several sites across different utilities	Only accounts in member communities qualify	Yes — one contract, one expiration date
Need 100% renewable	Yes, where the program includes it at the posted price	Priced as a premium for renewable certificates; compare the all-in number
Mercantile account	Opt-in only	Yes — bids priced to your own load

Aggregation prices are set for a whole community, not for your account. A small shop with ordinary daytime usage may have little to gain from a custom bid; a larger account with a flat load profile is more likely to benefit from one. Price both before the opt-out window closes. See fixed vs variable rates for term choices.

How to check whether you're enrolled

Look at the generation section of your bill. A supplier name such as NextEra Energy Services, AEP Energy or Dynegy means you're on a program or contract; the utility's price to compare means you're on default service.
Match the price. If the per-kWh generation price matches your community's posted aggregation rate, you're almost certainly in the program.
Call the program or supplier with your account number to confirm enrollment, price and any exit terms.
Keep the opt-out notices. They are the written record of the fee terms that apply to you.

FAQ

Can my business be enrolled in aggregation without signing anything?

Yes. A non-mercantile account on default service in a member community can be enrolled automatically after an opt-out notice with at least 21 days to respond.

Are there fees to leave an aggregation program?

Ohio law guarantees a free exit at least every three years. NOPEC, Clean Energy Columbus and Cincinnati currently advertise no exit fees; confirm your program's terms.

Does aggregation change my delivery charges?

No. Aggregation replaces only the generation price. Delivery, riders and the kWh tax still come from your utility.

Can a large business join?

Mercantile accounts (over 700,000 kWh a year or part of a national account) can join only by opting in. Compare the program's terms against a competitive bid priced to your own load.

Is aggregation always cheaper than the price to compare?

No. Program prices are set in advance and the default price resets every June 1, so either can be lower in a given year. Check both at least annually.