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Article Summary
Cincinnati utility rates have climbed sharply in recent months, pushing energy bills Ohio residents must pay to new highs. The increases follow regulatory decisions at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and rising costs in regional power markets. Duke Energy Cincinnati customers are reporting sticker shock as generation costs and delivery charges rise, prompting consumers to explore energy choice options and government aggregation programs to find relief.
Why Cincinnati utility rates are rising
Cincinnati utility rates have become a major concern for local families and businesses.
Many households in Greater Cincinnati are seeing higher costs for electricity and natural gas as winter heating demand increases. Additionally, generation charges are rising. Duke Energy Cincinnati customers, in particular, are reporting sticker shock on recent bills.
Residents in the Cincinnati area are feeling the impact of higher standard utility rates, especially on the generation portion of their bills. In June 2025, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved new rate increases. As a result, electric generation charges were raised for customers not enrolled in government aggregation programs.
On top of that, Duke Energy Cincinnati default generation costs increased significantly last year, with some customers seeing about 30 percent higher charges compared to previous periods.
Wholesale electricity costs in the PJM Interconnection capacity market — the regional grid serving Ohio — have also spiked. These capacity costs are billed through utilities. Consequently, they are one factor pushing up energy bills Ohio households must pay.
Experts say supply constraints, retiring power plants, and strong demand from businesses — including large data centers — are key behind these market price increases.
How Duke Energy Cincinnati customers are affected
Duke Energy Cincinnati customers have reported unusually high bills this winter. Many expected increased costs from heating use. However, delivery fees and rider charges are also driving totals higher.
Several consumers said delivery fees — which cover infrastructure maintenance — jumped alongside energy usage costs. This surprised ratepayers who thought those charges remained stable.
Around 15,000 Duke Energy customers saw spikes in their gas bills during the summer. This happened after back-billing adjustments related to an earlier billing system mishap.
In response to rising costs, Duke Energy Ohio has teamed with local agencies to offer bill assistance and one-time credits for eligible customers struggling with higher charges.
Options for relief amid rising bills
Ohio energy choice programs allow consumers to shop for alternative suppliers, which can sometimes offer lower fixed rates. These rates may be lower than standard utility pricing. Local experts encourage rate comparisons on the Ohio Energy Choice website to find competitive offers.
For the current 2025–2026 term, the City of Cincinnati’s specific aggregation rate is slightly higher than Duke’s default rate (10.73¢ vs 10.45¢). This reinforces why consumers need to check their specific plan.
According to the City of Cincinnati Office of Environment & Sustainability, past aggregation efforts delivered significant savings versus Duke’s price to compare.
Consumers are also urged to contact community action agencies and energy assistance programs if they face difficulty paying their bills.
What this means for local families and businesses
For many Cincinnati-area households, energy costs are becoming a larger share of monthly expenses. Analysts say ongoing market dynamics and regulatory decisions mean that Cincinnati utility rates may stay elevated through 2026 and beyond.
Local small businesses, heavy electricity users, and residents without energy choice plans are most exposed to market-driven rate increases.
Some community advocates have called for greater consumer protections and public hearings on utility rate cases with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO).
Also read:
Cincinnati landfill solar project set to power homes while boosting city’s renewable energy push
FAQs
What is driving higher Cincinnati utility rates?
Rising generation costs, PJM capacity market increases, and regulatory rate changes at PUCO have driven utility costs higher for residents.
How much have Duke Energy Cincinnati rates increased?
Standard generation charges increased roughly 25–30% in recent rate adjustments, with delivery fees also contributing to overall bill increases.
Can Cincinnati residents shop for lower energy prices?
Yes. Ohio’s energy choice marketplace lets consumers compare retail electricity suppliers for potentially lower fixed rates.
What programs help with high energy bills?
Government aggregation and local assistance programs can offer lower rates and financial support for qualifying low-income customers.
Are energy bills expected to keep rising in 2026?
Market forecasts suggest that capacity auction outcomes could push energy bills modestly higher starting summer 2026.
