Most Suppliers Are Legitimate. Some Aren't.

Ohio's deregulated energy market is regulated by PUCO, and the vast majority of suppliers play fair. But a handful operate in the gray zone — using confusing pricing, aggressive sales tactics, or buried fees to overcharge customers who don't read the fine print. Here are the five biggest red flags.

1. Door-to-Door Sales Reps Pushing Same-Day Sign-Up

Reputable suppliers don't send people to your door demanding you sign up on the spot. If a rep claims to be from your utility (they're not — utilities don't sell competitive supply) or pressures you to enroll before they leave, close the door. Take their flyer, verify the supplier on PUCO's Apples-to-Apples database, and decide on your own timeline.

What to do instead:

If a rep mentions a real offer, write down the supplier name and the rate. Look up the supplier on PUCO yourself. If the rate is legit, you can enroll online without dealing with the rep at all.

2. "Teaser Rates" That Convert to Variable

Some suppliers advertise a low introductory rate (say, 4.5¢/kWh) for the first 1-3 months, then automatically switch you to a variable rate that floats with the market — often landing 30-50% higher than what you started at.

Red flag language to watch for:

  • "Introductory rate" or "promotional rate" without a clear term length
  • "After the initial period, your rate may vary"
  • No early termination fee, but no fixed rate either

3. Monthly Fees Hidden in the Fine Print

The headline rate looks great, but there's a $5-15 monthly customer charge stacked on top. On a 900 kWh bill, a $10/month fee is the equivalent of adding 1.1¢/kWh to your rate. That can wipe out the entire savings vs your utility's default.

Always ask:

  • Is there a monthly base charge or service fee?
  • Is there a per-kWh delivery fee on top of the supply rate?
  • What's the all-in cost for a typical month?

4. Vague or Confusing Rate Disclosure

A legitimate supplier should give you a clear, simple answer to "What will I pay per kWh?" If a sales rep dodges that question, talks about "average savings of 20-40%," or tries to compare their rate to something other than your current rate, walk away. PUCO requires suppliers to disclose their rates in cents per kWh in writing before you enroll.

5. Outsized Early Termination Fees

Most fixed-rate contracts have an early termination fee (ETF) of $50-150. Some shady suppliers charge $200, $300, or even per-month-remaining penalties that can run into the thousands. If you ever need to cancel, that fee can eat any savings you accumulated.

The 90-day rule:

Ohio law gives you 7 days from the postmark of your enrollment confirmation to rescind without penalty. After that, you're subject to whatever the contract says. Read the ETF clause BEFORE signing, not after.

The Easy Way to Avoid All of This

Use a comparison tool that pulls rates directly from PUCO's official database. Every offer is required to disclose its rate, term, ETF, and any fees. EnergyMonkey does this automatically — you see the all-in cost ranked by your actual annual savings, with all the fee disclosures visible up front. No teaser rates, no hidden charges, no door knocks.