Ohio · Updated August 31, 2026
Columbia Gas of Ohio rates
Columbia Gas of Ohio's Standard Choice Offer for August 2026 is $0.4975 per Ccf, which is $4.975 per Mcf. That figure is the sum of a $2.7250 NYMEX month-end settlement price and a $2.25 retail price adjustment set by a PUCO auction each January. It is recalculated every month, so a fixed supplier offer is a bet on where it goes next rather than a straight discount against it.
Verified August 31, 2026. Source: Columbia Gas of Ohio's published Standard Choice Offer. Reviewed at the start of each month.
This month's rate, and what makes it
| Component | Amount | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| NYMEX settlement price | $2.7250 per Mcf | The market, at each month's end |
| Retail price adjustment | $2.25 per Mcf | A PUCO auction, held each January and fixed for the year |
| Standard Choice Offer | $4.975 per Mcf ($0.4975 per Ccf) | The sum, published monthly |
Only one of those two moves. The auction adjustment is locked for the year running April through March; the market half is what makes your bill different from last month's.
Your bill is quoted in Ccf and most supplier offers are quoted in both Ccf and Mcf. An Mcf is ten Ccf, so an offer that appears to be a tenth of the SCO is the same price in a different unit. Check the unit before the number.
August is the wrong month to judge it
Gas is a winter commodity. The SCO is at its lowest in late summer, when demand is minimal, and can run two to three times higher in January. Comparing a fixed twelve-month offer against an August rate makes almost every offer look expensive; comparing it against a January rate makes almost every one look cheap.
The honest comparison is against a full year of the SCO, and that number does not exist yet — it is a forecast either way. That uncertainty is what you are actually buying or declining when you fix a rate.
Where Columbia sits against the other three
| Utility | Default rate per Ccf | Territory |
|---|---|---|
| Enbridge Gas Ohio | $0.3425 (SCO) | Cleveland, Akron and northeast Ohio |
| CenterPoint Energy Ohio | $0.4566 (SCO) | Dayton and west central Ohio |
| Columbia Gas of Ohio | $0.4975 (SCO) | Columbus, Toledo and much of central and western Ohio |
| Duke Energy Ohio | $1.037 (SSO) | Cincinnati and southwest Ohio |
You cannot choose your utility — it is decided by where you live. The table is here because a supplier offer has to be compared against your own utility's default, and quoting a state-wide average against Columbia's rate would mislead in either direction.
When a supplier beats the SCO
- When you would rather have a predictable winter bill than the lowest expected cost. That is insurance, and it is a legitimate reason to fix.
- When the fixed rate is below what you would reasonably expect the SCO to average over the whole term, not just below this month's.
- Not when the offer opens below the SCO and then floats. Read what the rate becomes after the introductory period, because that is what you will pay for most of the contract.
- Not when leaving your current contract costs more in termination fees than the new rate saves before it expires.
Common questions
What is Columbia Gas of Ohio's current rate?
The Standard Choice Offer for August 2026 is $0.4975 per Ccf, or $4.975 per Mcf. It is recalculated monthly against the NYMEX settlement price.
How is the Columbia Gas SCO calculated?
The month-end NYMEX settlement price for natural gas, currently $2.7250 per Mcf, plus a retail price adjustment of $2.25 per Mcf set by a PUCO auction each January and held for the year.
Why does my Columbia Gas rate change every month?
Because half of it tracks the natural gas market. The auction-set portion is fixed for the year, but the NYMEX component is recalculated at the end of every month, which is why the rate on your bill moves without anything changing at your house.
Is Columbia Gas of Ohio cheaper than other Ohio gas utilities?
At $0.4975 per Ccf it currently sits above Enbridge Gas Ohio and CenterPoint, and well below Duke Energy Ohio at $1.037. It is not a choice you can make, though — your utility is determined by where you live.
Should I switch away from the Columbia Gas SCO?
Only if a fixed offer beats what you expect the SCO to average across the full contract term, or if a predictable bill is worth more to you than the expected saving. Comparing a fixed rate against August's SCO, the cheapest month of the year, will mislead you.