US Commercial Energy

US Commercial Energy Commercial Energy Brokerage in Downtown Columbus, Ohio

🚨 DUKE ENERGY OHIO GAS ALERT 🚨Natural gas customers on Duke Energy Ohio’s utility rate could see a BIG increase starting...
05/12/2026

🚨 DUKE ENERGY OHIO GAS ALERT 🚨

Natural gas customers on Duke Energy Ohio’s utility rate could see a BIG increase starting June 1 📈🔥

The Price to Compare (PTC) is jumping nearly 30%:
➡️ May: ~$0.7586/CCF
➡️ June: ~$0.9850/CCF

What’s crazy?
This increase isn’t mainly from higher natural gas prices 👀

The biggest driver is a new reconciliation charge (“SSOCR rider”) being added onto customer bills — adding nearly 28¢ per CCF for the next 3 months.

💡 What this means:
• Higher summer gas bills for many customers
• Utility rates can increase even when market prices fall
• Understanding your supply structure matters more than ever

A lot of customers only look at commodity prices… but riders, capacity costs, and reconciliation charges can have a huge impact on your actual bill.

If you’re a Duke Ohio customer, now’s a good time to review your gas pricing before these changes hit.

UtilityBills

05/12/2026

🚨 Duke Energy Ohio Natural Gas Customers: Another Big Increase Coming June 1 🚨

Duke Energy Ohio’s natural gas Price to Compare (PTC) is set to jump nearly 30% starting June 1 — increasing from approximately $0.7586/CCF to $0.9850/CCF.

What’s interesting is this increase is NOT mainly being caused by higher natural gas market prices (NYMEX). In fact, the actual supply portion of the rate is decreasing slightly.

The real driver is a large increase in Duke’s “SSOCR” reconciliation rider — an additional charge being added onto customer bills. That adjustment alone swings nearly 28¢ per CCF and is expected to remain in place for the next 3 months.

📈 Why this matters:
• Customers on Duke’s utility supply rate will likely see noticeably higher gas bills this summer.
• Many customers assume summer gas prices automatically fall — but riders and reconciliation charges can still create major increases.
• Since this rider is currently bypassable, competitive supplier options may help some businesses/customers avoid portions of these costs depending on their situation.

As always, this is why it’s important to actually understand what makes up your utility rate — because the commodity market itself is only one piece of the equation.

If you’re a Duke Ohio customer and want to review your current gas pricing strategy before June, now is probably a good time.

05/05/2026

⚡ Ohio Energy Market Update – What Businesses Need to Know⚡

Energy prices across Ohio are continuing to stay elevated and volatile, and we’re seeing a few key trends shaping what’s available right now:

• Electric rates remain above historical averages due to rising capacity costs in the PJM Interconnection market
• Utilities like AEP Ohio and Ohio Edison are still reflecting higher price-to-compare (PTC) levels than what many customers were used to in past years
• Suppliers are being more cautious with pricing and we’re seeing shorter quote windows and some pulling back during market swings

💡 What this means for your business:
If your account is sitting on a variable or expired rate, you’re likely paying significantly more than necessary right now. Locking in a fixed rate, even slightly below the utility, can provide budget stability and protection from further increases.

📊 We’re still finding opportunities to beat the utility rate, especially for businesses that act quickly while pricing is available.

If you’d like a quick review of your current rate or a comparison, feel free to message us or send over a recent bill!

04/23/2026

⚡ Natural Gas Update: What’s Driving Prices Right Now?

The natural gas market is sending a pretty clear signal right now and it’s not exactly bullish. Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes:

📦 Storage is building fast
Inventories are now sitting about 7% above normal, thanks to mild spring weather keeping heating demand low. That’s allowing producers to inject more gas into storage than usual.

📉 Prices slipping despite recent gains
After a short rally, natural gas futures pulled back about 2% this week as the market reacts to strong supply and weaker demand expectations.

🌡️ Weather isn’t helping demand
With temperatures staying relatively mild, demand is expected to dip further in the coming weeks; another bearish signal for pricing.

🚧 Permian bottleneck = negative prices
At the Waha Hub in West Texas, prices have been negative for a record stretch due to pipeline constraints trapping gas in the Permian Basin. Translation: there’s so much supply locally that producers are essentially paying to move it.

🌍 LNG exports are booming… but not moving the needle
Even with record-high LNG exports, domestic prices haven’t reacted much. The U.S. market remains largely insulated from global price spikes (for now).

💡 Bottom line:
We’re in a supply-heavy, demand-light environment—which is putting downward pressure on prices in the short term. But as always in energy, things can shift quickly with weather, production changes, or global events.

If you’ve got a contract coming up for renewal, timing and strategy matter more than ever in this kind of market.

⚡️ OHIO ENERGY UPDATE: AEP RATES + AGGREGATIONSIf you’re in Ohio—this matters right now 👇📊 AEP Ohio Price to Compare:Cur...
04/22/2026

⚡️ OHIO ENERGY UPDATE: AEP RATES + AGGREGATIONS

If you’re in Ohio—this matters right now 👇

📊 AEP Ohio Price to Compare:
Currently ~9.9¢/kWh

👉 Sounds okay… until you realize:
• It was ~7–8¢ just a couple years ago
• It already hit 10.5¢+ earlier this year

Translation: Prices aren’t going back down—they’re just fluctuating on the way up.

🏘️ Town Aggregations (What’s Actually Happening)
A lot of people think they’re “locked into a good deal”… but:

• Many aggregation rates are expiring
• New rates are coming in higher
• Some towns are losing aggregation altogether

👉 Meaning you could quietly roll onto a higher utility rate without realizing it

📈 The Reality
• The market has shifted
• Cheap electric is (for now) a thing of the past
• Waiting = usually paying more later

💡 What to Do
Know:
✔️ When your rate expires
✔️ What you’re currently paying
✔️ What your options are before you default

If you’re not sure where you stand, we can take a quick look and tell you in 2 minutes 👍

OhioBusiness

04/22/2026

🏘️ What’s Going On with Town Aggregations?

Many Ohio communities are currently facing one of two situations:

1. Aggregation rates expiring or resetting higher
A lot of towns locked in strong pricing years ago, but as those contracts expire, they’re being replaced at today’s higher market rates.

2. Some communities losing aggregation pricing altogether
If residents opt out or programs expire without renewal, customers default back to the utility PTC (which is often higher and more volatile).

👉 Important: Aggregations are not immune to the market, they are simply bulk purchases of energy, and right now, the market is more expensive.

📈 What This Means
• Utility rates are no longer the “safe default” they once were
• Aggregation pricing is resetting closer to market reality
• The days of 6–7¢ electric are behind us (for now)

💡 The Smart Move Right Now
Whether you’re currently on:
• A town aggregation
• A supplier contract
• Or the utility rate

👉 The key is understanding when your rate expires and what your next move is BEFORE it happens

Because once you fall onto a variable or higher reset rate, you’re reacting, not planning.

04/08/2026

⚡ Natural Gas Drops Again — Here’s What’s Driving It

U.S. natural gas futures fell over 5% today, dropping to $2.71/MMBtu — the lowest level we’ve seen since November 2024 and wiping out yesterday’s gains.

So what’s behind the move?

🌍 Geopolitics cooling off:
A reported two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is easing tensions and reopening the Strait of Hormuz — reducing immediate supply concerns in global energy markets.

🌡️ Weather = lower demand:
Forecasts are calling for milder-than-normal temperatures through April 22, which means less heating demand and downward pressure on prices.

📉 Short-term volatility:
While prices briefly bounced yesterday (+2.1%) due to a dip in production, overall output remains relatively strong — even after a 3 bcfd drop driven by declines in Louisiana and Arkansas.

👉 Bottom line:
Recent price swings continue to be driven more by headlines than fundamentals. With softer demand and easing geopolitical risk, natural gas may continue to face downward pressure in the near term.

If you have contracts coming up, timing matters more than ever in this kind of market.

⚡ Your electric bill is changing — and most businesses don’t even realize why.Across the PJM Interconnection, capacity c...
04/06/2026

⚡ Your electric bill is changing — and most businesses don’t even realize why.

Across the PJM Interconnection, capacity costs are skyrocketing — and for many companies, they now make up 25%+ of the total bill.

So what’s driving it?

👉 PLC (Peak Load Contribution)

It’s basically your building’s “score” based on how much energy you use during the 5 highest demand hours of the year.

The higher your usage in those moments = the more you pay ALL year long.

💡 Here’s the good news: you can control it.

A few small adjustments during those peak hours can lead to major savings:

✔️ Shift or reduce usage during peak alerts
✔️ Pre-cool or stagger equipment
✔️ Use backup generation
✔️ Combine strategies for maximum impact

🔥 Why this matters:

A handful of summer afternoons can determine a HUGE portion of your electricity costs for the next year.

⚠️ Anyone can quote you a rate…
But very few are helping you control what actually drives your bill.

That’s where strategy comes in.

📩 If your contract is coming up or you want to see where you stand, let’s take a look.

04/06/2026

⚡ Capacity Costs Are Rising Fast — Here’s What It Means for Your Business

Across the PJM Interconnection, capacity prices are surging — hitting as high as $333.44 per MW-day for the 2027–2028 delivery year.

👉 For many businesses, this one line item is now making up 25% or more of their total electric bill.

So what’s driving it?

It comes down to your Peak Load Contribution (PLC) — essentially your building’s “score” based on how much electricity you use during the 5 highest demand hours of the year.

💡 Why PLC Matters

The higher your usage during those peak hours:
➡️ The higher your PLC
➡️ The higher your capacity charges
➡️ The more you pay all year long

The good news? PLC is NOT fixed. You can control it.

📉 How to Lower Your Costs

Smart businesses are already taking action:

✔️ Curtail usage during peak alerts
(pre-cooling, staggering equipment, shifting operations)

✔️ Leverage backup generation
(reduce reliance on the grid during peak hours)

✔️ Combine both strategies
(This is where the biggest savings happen)

A few smart moves during just a handful of summer afternoons can lead to meaningful cost reductions for the entire following year.

🚨 The Bigger Picture

Anyone can quote you a rate.

But in today’s market, your total cost isn’t just about price — it’s about strategy.

We help clients:
• Identify peak demand windows
• Build simple curtailment plans
• Evaluate on-site generation options
• Structure contracts around real usage

Because the real advantage isn’t just saving money today —
it’s controlling your costs tomorrow.

03/31/2026

⚡ Natural Gas Volatility Is Back — What It Means for Energy Prices

Natural gas has been on a wild ride to start 2026 — up nearly 100% in Q1, only to reverse and drop 18% by the end of March.

So what’s going on?

📉 Short-term bounce: Prices ticked back up to ~$2.95/MMBtu this week, driven by geopolitical tension and LNG export disruptions tied to the Middle East.

🌡️ But fundamentals tell a different story:

Warmer-than-normal weather is reducing heating demand
Storage is shifting from deficit → surplus heading into April
Oversupply risks are building

⛽ Meanwhile, gasoline just crossed $4/gallon for the first time since 2022 — showing how global events are still heavily influencing energy markets.

Bottom line:
The recent price spikes are being driven more by headlines than actual supply/demand. As those geopolitical pressures ease, we could see natural gas (and potentially oil) trend lower — similar to what we’re already starting to see.

If you’re coming up on a renewal, timing and strategy matter more than ever in this kind of market.

03/23/2026

Natural gas prices jumped this week, up nearly 8%, but the rally is being driven more by headlines than real supply/demand.

Here’s what’s actually happening 👇

• U.S. LNG exports are already maxed out → no room for increased demand
• One of the mildest Marchs in 14 years has crushed late-winter usage
• Storage is flipping from a deficit to a projected surplus by mid-April
• Long-term storage could exceed 4.0 Tcf (historically bearish territory)

On top of that, easing tensions around Iran are starting to remove the “war premium” that’s been supporting prices.

Bottom line:
The market is showing a growing disconnect between financial momentum and physical oversupply, which could mean downside risk over the next 30–45 days.

If you’re managing energy costs, timing matters more than ever right now.

Address

454 E Main Street, Suite 260
Columbus, OH
43215

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 5:30pm
Thursday 8am - 5:30pm
Friday 8am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+16143629702

Website

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