AES Ohio is here to help you better understand your usage and access energy savings tips.
Winter utility bills are often higher because people spend more time inside, use more electricity and run their heating systems more often. Heating and cooling make up more than half the energy used in your home, as the chart below shows.
When the outside temperature drops, the rate of heat loss from your home increases, forcing the furnace to work harder to replace that lost heat. Cold air naturally holds less moisture than warm air, which means dry air is harder to heat, further stressing the furnace.
Understanding your bill, energy use matters
Discover bill calculators
AES Ohio offers bill calculators to help customers understand the charges on their bills. Learn more.
Learn about Ohio electric choice
In Ohio, customers can buy their electric generation from any PUCO-certified supplier. Understand your options to make the best choice for you. Electric choice gives you the ability to choose who supplies the generation of your electricity. Learn more about Ohio electric choice.
Energy savings tips
AES Ohio wants to help you save energy and money by educating you on how your home uses energy.
FAQs
Your bill may increase due to several factors, but the primary reason for high bills is increased usage. Bills often rise in winter and summer due to higher use of heating and air conditioning, which makes up more than 40-50 percent of your bill.
- Billing cycle. It’s normal for the number of days in each billing cycle to change from month to month. More days per cycle will cause your bill to be higher. You can see the number of days in your billing cycle on the front page of your bill.
- Weather factors. Your electric bill is based on the weather during your specific billing cycle, meaning even if the overall month's weather is mild, a particularly cold or hot period within your billing cycle can lead to a higher bill.
AES Ohio uses past usage from previous billing periods for the same time of year to estimate a customer's bill when they are unable to read the meter (traditional meter). This is called estimated reading adjustment and will need an actual meter reading taken by a utility worker. Your next bill will reflect either a credit or balance due on the account. Customers can avoid estimated bills by:
- Monitor your usage to better minimize the variance between estimated and actual readings.
- Ensure your meter is accessible to take a physical reading.
- Contact AES Ohio Customer Service if your estimated bill appears significantly higher.
A smart meter is a digital electric meter with remote data capabilities. It replaces traditional meters with two-way communication technology, allowing for secure virtual readings and more accurate billing. Smart meters are part of electric grid updates utilizing new technologies. Learn more about smart meters.
AES Ohio trusts our vendors and deployed equipment for grid modernization. The selected meter make and model pass rigorous tests for accuracy under various electrical loads and weather conditions, approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). In addition, AES Ohio tests a percentage of meters from vendors before installation and monitors accuracy with routine samples or periodic testing.
Questions
Our Customer Service team is ready to assist you via chat at aes-ohio.com or by calling 800-433-8500 (Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM).
Thank you
At AES Ohio, we are committed to delivering reliable service and accurate billing for our customers. As part of our recent system upgrade, a small number of customers may have experienced billing issues, including estimated usage, delayed statements or higher-than-expected bills. We recognize the inconvenience this may have caused and have taken action to resolve the issue. In January, we experienced the coldest winter across our service area in 10 years.