Utility customers could foot the bill for those who don’t pay this winter

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(The Center Square) – If it’s getting chilly inside homes in Ohio as winter approaches, the state plans to help by possibly increasing prices for those who pay their bills.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio issued a special reconnect order for this winter, effective Oct. 12 through April 16 covering every gas, natural gas and electric company under the commission’s jurisdiction – including  Ohio Power Company (AEP Ohio), Duke Energy Ohio, Inc. (Duke) and The Dayton Power and Light Company.

It is designed to help customers maintain or reconnect their utility services. If a customer uses the order, the amount owed does not change, and customers continue to be responsible for the bill. 

For more than 10 years, “the Commission has determined each year that, in order to prevent injury to these residential customers, it was in the public interest to issue special reconnect procedures for the winter heating season,” the order states.

But losses by the utility companies from unpaid bills could mean higher bills for those who pay on time.

Utility company customers, not the state government, usually cover the losses of any bills that are left unpaid, Brittany Waugaman, spokeswoman for PUCO, told The Center Square.

For example, in calendar year 2025, First Energy customers were charged about $26 million to cover losses from customers that did not pay, Waugaman said.

Under the PUCO order, customers can be charged up to $175 for a reconnect and a reconnection free of up to $36. The $175 can be split between two utilities, electric and natural gas, according to PUCO.

The $175 fee can be waived for customers who are at or below 175% of federal poverty guidelines as part of a  federal program administered by the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services

More than 200,000 customers used the reconnect service last year, according to PUCO.

That number has increased 21% over the last five winter seasons, PUCO said.