(Columbus, OH) – Starting this month, Columbia Gas of Ohio customers who participate in the Standard Choice Offer (SCO) program will see a bill decrease of $1 for every MCF of gas they use.
Each year in January, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio holds an auction to decide which natural gas suppliers can provide gas to customers on Columbia’s SCO program. Last year’s (January 2025) auction resulted in a higher gas cost than in previous years, which contributed to higher customer bills. The increase is driven primarily by the market price of gas, which can be unpredictable. However, the January 2026 auction resulted in lower gas costs, which are paid by customers.
The cost of gas, also known as the Retail Price Adjustment, is a fixed rate for 12 months, from April to March annually, and is reflected in the “Supply” portion of a customer’s bill. Typically, the cost of gas supply makes up about half of the customer bill and is a pass-through cost, meaning Columbia Gas doesn’t profit from this portion of the bill.
Customers can see who their SCO supplier is by looking at the Standard Choice Offer section under “Detail Charges” on their bill. All SCO suppliers charge the same price for natural gas. For more information on the SCO program, please visit https://www.columbiagasohio.com/bills-and-payments/billing-programs/standard-choice-offer.
Most customers, by default, receive natural gas through the SCO, but customers also have the option to purchase natural gas from a certified supplier through the voluntary CHOICE program. Customers can find a list of CHOICE suppliers by visiting https://www.columbiagasohio.com/bills-and-payments/billing-programs/choice.
Customers who have previously opted out of the SCO program, by selecting their own CHOICE supplier, can return to the SCO program. Customers must contact their CHOICE supplier to initiate the process.
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About Columbia Gas of Ohio
Columbia Gas of Ohio delivers clean, dependable and efficient natural gas to approximately 1.5 million customers across the state. With headquarters in Columbus, it is the largest natural gas utility in Ohio. Columbia Gas of Ohio is one of six regulated utility companies of NiSource (NYSE: NI), one of the largest fully-regulated utility companies in the United States. NiSource employees are focused on our mission to deliver safe, reliable energy that drives value to our customers, and guided by our vision to be an innovative and trusted energy partner. More information about Columbia Gas of Ohio and NiSource, including its goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions from its operations by 2040, is available at www.ColumbiaGasOhio.com and www.NiSource.com.
