SmartEnergy in Ohio: what the state's record, BBB and the chart show

SmartEnergy gets a checklist rather than a number. Ohio does not release complaint counts seller by seller, so a score would be a guess. Each of five rules is marked below, with a link and a read date. How we check explains the rules.

The PUCO's news release of Aug. 23, 2023 says its investigation began after multiple complaints to its call center during 2022. It says the investigation found that SmartEnergy gave customers misleading and deceptive information. The release lists five findings, shown below. The order is the state's finding, not ours.

1. 2019The PUCO's list shows a $19,000 forfeiture for marketing and enrollment practices, order of Nov. 6, 2019.
2. 2022Multiple complaints reach the PUCO call center.
3. Aug. 23, 2023The PUCO fines SmartEnergy $122,000 and orders credits for some customers (case 23-601-EL-UNC). It limits SmartEnergy to fixed-rate contracts for 24 months.

The release says SmartEnergy told customers they would be protected from rate increases, and told customers they could claim a gift card they were not yet eligible for. It says some variable rates reached $0.299 per kilowatt hour. It says SmartEnergy enrolled customers who were clearly confused, and did not give the required notice that contract terms were nearing expiration. The PUCO ordered SmartEnergy to re-rate the bills of customers charged $0.299 per kWh to the utility's default price at the time.

SmartEnergy lists one fixed plan in each area on the chart. It runs 6 months, has no cancel fee and is 100% renewable. The table shows its price next to each utility's price to compare. Prices are cents per kWh, power only.

Prices refreshed Oct. 24, 2026

A renewable plan can cost more for a reason you value. If that is your reason, the gap above is what you would pay for it. If it is not, your utility's default is the cheaper start.

SmartEnergy's Ohio terms say it may send a renewal notice 45 to 90 days before the fixed period ends. If you do not answer, the plan can renew at the notice's rate, or move to a variable rate. A 6-month plan comes round quickly. Type your end date and see when each notice is due.

1. 1
   Find the end date.

   It is in your welcome letter.

2. 2
   Enter the cancel fee.

   Type 0 if your plan has none.

3. 3
   Choose the closest contract type.

   The tool names the options.

4. 4
   Note the dates.

   Put them on your calendar.

The dates follow Ohio's supplier rules, so check them against your contract. The numbers stay in your browser.

The terms say the variable rate is set by SmartEnergy each billing period. They say you will not get a notice of the upcoming variable rate, and that you will not know it until your bill unless you call. They say there is no limit on how much the rate may change between bills, unless your welcome letter sets one. You may cancel at any time without a fee, so the way to limit the risk is to act before the fixed period ends.

Ohio does not count complaints by seller, so BBB is the nearest public tally. Its SmartEnergy Holdings, LLC page lists 101 complaints over three years, with an A+ rating, on Nov. 1, 2026. BBB did not show a split by type or by year on that page. Each complaint is one customer's report, and BBB does not rule on them.