Enbridge Gas Ohio Rates Jump 27% to $4.92/MCF: What This Means for Your Winter Bills

Ohio residents served by Enbridge Gas Ohio (formerly Dominion Energy Ohio) are waking up to a sharp increase in natural gas prices just as winter weather begins to settle across the state. Effective today, December 10, 2025, the Standard Choice Offer (SCO) rate has risen to $4.9248 per Mcf, a roughly 27% increase from November’s rate of $3.876.

This spike comes at a challenging time for households in Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Youngstown, Lima, and Marietta, who are already navigating changes to their utility bills following Enbridge’s acquisition of the East Ohio Gas Company.

Here is a breakdown of why rates are rising, how much more you can expect to pay, and what options are available to manage your heating costs this winter.

The Numbers: A Sharp Winter Increase

For the billing cycle beginning December 10, the new SCO rate is set at $4.9248 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf).

To put this in perspective:

• Last Month (November): $3.876 per Mcf.
• The Increase: $1.048 per Mcf (approximately 27%).
• One Year Ago (December 2024): $3.631 per Mcf.

For a typical home using 20 Mcf of gas during a cold billing cycle, the commodity portion of the bill alone will jump by roughly $21 compared to last month. This does not include distribution charges, which have also recently changed.

Why Are Rates Changing?

The Enbridge Gas Ohio SCO rate is a variable rate that changes monthly based on national market conditions. It is calculated using a formula approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO): NYMEX Month-End Settlement Price + Retail Price Adjustment.

1. The Market Price ($4.424): The primary driver of this month’s increase is the wholesale cost of natural gas. The NYMEX futures contract for December 2025 settled at $4.424 per MMBtu. This price surged due to forecasts of a colder-than-normal start to December and tightening inventory levels across the United States. Additionally, record demand for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports is linking Ohio’s heating costs more closely to global energy markets.
2. The Retail Price Adjustment ($0.50): This is a fixed fee determined by an annual auction. For the current period (April 2025 – March 2026), the adjustment is $0.50 per Mcf. This covers the supplier’s administrative costs and risks.   

Geographic Impact: Who is Affected?

This rate change specifically impacts customers in the Enbridge Gas Ohio service territory. This includes over 1.2 million customers across 35 counties.

Major Cities Impacted:

• Northeast Ohio: Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Youngstown, Warren, Ashtabula.
• Western Ohio: Lima.
• Southern Ohio: Marietta.

Note: This rate does not apply to Columbia Gas of Ohio customers (Columbus, Toledo), who are facing an even higher SCO rate of roughly $7.67 per Mcf due to a higher retail price adjustment in their service area.

The “Double Whammy”: Higher Rates + Higher Fixed Charges

The rise in the price of gas is only half the story. Effective November 1, 2025, Enbridge Gas Ohio restructured its billing to include a higher fixed monthly charge.

• New Fixed Charge: The “Basic Service Charge” for residential customers has increased to $43.43 per month (up from roughly $17.58 previously).⁸
• Variable Riders: To offset this, some variable riders were reduced or zeroed out.

What this means for you: Your bill is now less dependent on how much gas you use, but the “cost of entry” to have gas service is significantly higher. Even if you turn down your thermostat, that $43.43 fixed charge remains the same, making the 27% jump in the usage rate ($4.9248) even more painful for budget-conscious households.

Consumer Options: Should You Switch?

With the SCO rate nearing $5.00, many consumers are looking at alternatives.

1. NOPEC and Aggregation:Many communities in the Enbridge territory participate in the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC). NOPEC’s Standard Program Price for January 2026 is listed at $5.59 per Mcf.9 While this is higher than the current SCO of $4.92, it is a stable rate that won’t spike if the “Polar Vortex” sends market rates to $7.00 or $8.00 in January or February.
2. Competitive Suppliers: You can shop for fixed-rate plans on the PUCO Apples to Apples website. Current 12-month fixed rates from major suppliers are generally hovering between $5.19 and $6.09 per Mcf.
   • Warning: Be wary of “introductory” rates that start low (e.g., $3.19) but switch to a high variable rate after one month.
3. Financial Assistance:If you are struggling to pay your bill, winter assistance programs are available. The Special Reconnect Order allows customers to restore service for a one-time payment of $175.10 The Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) caps gas bills at 5% of monthly income for eligible households.

The Bottom Line

The era of ultra-low gas prices appears to be paused for this winter. With the Enbridge SCO rate hitting $4.9248, combined with the new $43.43 monthly fixed charge, Ohioans should prepare for significantly higher heating bills in December and January.

For more updates on utility rates and energy saving tips, stay tuned to Utilities For My Home.