Data centers in Ohio

Duke Energy Ohio filed a new application with PUCO in early 2026 seeking a 38 percent increase in distribution charges, the delivery portion of the bill that covers poles, wires and local infrastructure. If approved as filed, a typical residential customer would pay about 8.32 dollars more a month. PUCO has scheduled local public hearings for December 1, 2026 in Middletown and December 10, 2026 in Cincinnati and Hamilton, with evidentiary hearings expected in late 2026 and a PUCO decision expected around mid-2027.

AES Ohio, which serves the Dayton area, asked PUCO for a distribution rate increase of roughly 14 percent. PUCO approved a settlement on November 5, 2025 that trimmed the increase, working out to about a 9 percent rise on a typical residential bill using 1000 kWh a month. AES Ohio has since filed a separate case asking for a new three year rate plan covering 2027 through 2029, which was still pending as of mid 2026.

AEP Ohio asked to raise electric distribution rates, which as filed would have added about 3.95 dollars a month, or 2.14 percent, for a typical household using 1000 kWh. PUCO instead approved a settlement on April 1, 2026 that lowers the typical residential bill by about 1.22 dollars a month and sets AEP Ohio's allowed return on equity at 9.84 percent. The settlement also creates a minimum monthly charge specifically for new data center customers, building on PUCO's earlier data center tariff order.

AEP Ohio filed a proposal in May 2024 to create a new tariff for large data centers and crypto miners. PUCO approved a settlement on July 9, 2025 that requires new data centers over 25 megawatts to sign 12 year contracts and pay for at least 85 percent of the power capacity they reserve, even if they use less. Regulators said this keeps the cost of new power lines and equipment built for data centers off the bills of regular households. Ohio's manufacturers group later challenged how some of the new charges are applied.