ZANESVILLE – Electric bills in Zanesville surged nearly 21% over the past year, and officials warn the increases may not be over as rising demand and infrastructure costs continue to pressure rates.
On average, local electric bills, which come through AEP Ohio (Ohio Power), were $132.84 in May 2025 to compared $160.39 in May 2026, erasing a 21% decrease from 2024. However, compared to 2020, the costs in Zanesville are still up close to $61 and around 61%.
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), a regulating body of the state’s service providers and their distribution rates, offered an explanation to the Times Recorder.
“Electricity prices across the country have risen due in large part due to forecasted load growth,” explained Matt Schilling, a PUCO spokesperson. “By and large, the electricity industry has not experienced increased load growth in three decades but is now starting to see increases. Coupled with retiring power plants, largely coal, nuclear, or gas, the grid is seeing tightening supply and demand.”
Put more simply, load growth is a greater demand for energy across the grid.
Increasing consumer rates, however, is not the only option considered, he continued.
“New focus from state and federal regulators is encouraging electric utilities to pursue ‘advanced transmission technologies.’ In simple terms, this means upgrading existing high-voltage power lines to squeeze more power through them, thereby deferring, or eliminating the need to construct new lines.”
A 2025 house bill (Substitute HB 15) has since required service providers and regulators evaluate the potential of boosting the capacities of pre-existing utility infrastructures, like power lines, according to a paper published by PUCO in February 2026.
To that end, two PUCO workshops were held in September 2025 to allow industry stakeholders to talk on advanced transmission technologies and alternatives to improving future transmissions. One example included using more advanced conductors, according to PUCO’s paper.
OCC monitors utility rate cases
Electric bills have increased five out of the past six years, so affordability is one of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel’s (OCC) higher priorities.
“Looking ahead, OCC is concerned about continued pressure on electric bills,” J.P. Blackwood, the OCC’s public affairs liaison, told the Times Recorder. “Utilities continue to seek higher distribution rates, while the rapid growth of large energy users, including data centers, is increasing demand for electricity and placing upward pressure on both generation and transmission costs.”
The OCC advocates on behalf of consumers in complex cases before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. It lobbies for laws and policies that protect residents from unwarranted rate hikes, and represents the interest Ohio households regarding their electric, natural gas, telephone, and water services.
It also monitors rate increases submitted to PUCO. That’s the formal process for when a service provider files an application wanting to increase distribution rates.
“AEP Ohio is expected to file a new three-year distribution rate plan within the next year … OCC will carefully review any proposed increases to ensure that consumers pay no more than is reasonable, necessary, and affordable,” Blackwood said.
Many such rate cases are submitted when companies seek to recoup costs of building or maintaining infrastructure, like a local system of poles, wires, meters and substations.
“This is a cost-of-service model meaning utilities by law are allowed to set rates to recover their expenses of providing service,” Schilling explained.
What can consumers do?
Heating and cooling are often the biggest contributors to a consumer’s electricity bills, according to the AEP Ohio website, and accounts for more than 61% of a home’s electric use.
Here are a few summer energy-conscious tips from AEP:
Lighting is the next biggest contributor to electric bills at nearly 11% of a home’s electric use. It can even go as high as 20%, notes AEP.
AEP also offers some guidance on appliances:
Consumers can also use the AEP website to create a personal home energy profile that breaks down a household’s annual energy use.
Shawn Digity is a reporter for the Zanesville Times Recorder. He can be emailed at sdigity@gannett.com or found on X at @ShawnDigityZTR.
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: City electric bills jump 21 percent in one year, more increases expected
Reporting by Shawn Digity, Zanesville Times Recorder / Zanesville Times Recorder
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By Shawn Digity, Zanesville Times Recorder | USA TODAY Network
