COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio residents are paying much more for electricity and natural gas this year, with some bills up by as much as 44%, according to Consumer Energy Solutions and cleveland.com.
Experts say the surge is driven not only by higher natural gas prices, but also by costly grid upgrades needed to power artificial intelligence data centers across the region.
Columbia Gas of Ohio’s standard rate has climbed nearly 26% since December, pushing up costs at gas-fired power plants and raising electric rates statewide.
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio says recent PJM Interconnection auctions — which set the price for power capacity — have hit record highs, adding up to 15% to summer bills this year and potentially another 5% in 2026.
Ohioans can compare rates and shop for alternative energy suppliers at EnergyChoice.Ohio.gov.
