Standard Service Offer (SSO)
Enbridge Gas Ohio continues to make available to certain customers its Standard Service Offer (SSO) rate for natural gas supply purchased directly from Enbridge Gas Ohio. The SSO rate varies each month and is based on market pricing.
FAQs
What is SSO?
The Standard Service Offer (SSO) is the commodity rate charged to customers who are ineligible to participate in the Energy Choice program or in a governmental aggregation program.
It is also the default rate for up to two billing periods for new customers who haven't chosen an Energy Choice supplier, or those customers whose Energy Choice contracts have expired.
Who is billed at the SSO rate?
Customers are billed at the SSO rate if they are ineligible to participate in the Energy Choice program or in a governmental aggregation program because they are enrolled in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP) program or the Graduate PIPP program, or they have arrearages and have broken more than one payment plan in the previous 12 months.
Also, new customers are billed at the SSO rate for up to two billing periods, after which residential customers will be assigned to a retail supplier at the Standard Choice Offer (SCO) rate if they have not chosen a supplier on their own.
In addition, non-residential and large volume customers, or any Energy Choice customers whose contracts have expired, will return to SSO for up to two billing periods and then will be assigned to a retail supplier at the supplier's monthly retail rate (MRR). Nonresidential customers may elect to receive service under the SCO rate instead of the MRR by notifying Enbridge Gas Ohio.
How is the SSO rate determined?
The SSO rate changes monthly based on the monthly closing price of natural gas on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), plus a retail price adjustment. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) oversees an annual auction process that determines the retail price adjustment, which reflects the suppliers' cost of delivering the gas from wherever it is produced to Enbridge Gas Ohio's system for delivery to customers.
Does the SSO rate include a profit for Enbridge Gas Ohio?
No. The SSO rate billed to customers is the same price at which Enbridge Gas Ohio purchases gas from the SSO suppliers. Enbridge Gas makes no profit on the natural gas portion of the bill. Instead, Enbridge Gas recovers its operating costs and a return on its investment in pipelines and facilities through its delivery charges.
Will customers see changes in their service from Enbridge Gas Ohio?
No. Enbridge Gas continues to provide its current services, such as billing, meter reading, emergency response and answering bill and service questions.
Standard Choice Offers (SCO)
Enbridge Gas offers eligible customers the opportunity to choose a retail natural gas supplier through its Energy Choice program. Most residential customers can choose to be on the Standard Choice Offer (SCO) rate if they don't choose a retail supplier. The SCO rate varies each month and is based on market pricing.
FAQs
What is SCO?
The Standard Choice Offer (SCO) is the rate most residential customers who are eligible for Energy Choice, but have not chosen a supplier or joined a municipal aggregation program, pay for their natural gas consumption. These customers are assigned to a retail natural gas supplier and pay the same monthly variable SCO rate, regardless of the assigned supplier.
Who is eligible for the SCO rate?
Residential customers are eligible for the SCO rate if they are current on their natural gas bills or if they have arrearages but have not broken more than one payment plan in the previous 12 months, and are not participating in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP).
In addition, in order to be eligible for the SCO rate, residential customers must be on the General Sales Service - Residential or Energy Choice Transportation Service - Residential rate schedule, which are limited to residential customers who use less than 3,000 MCF per year.
How is the SCO rate determined?
The SCO rate changes monthly based on the monthly closing price of natural gas on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), plus a Retail Price Adjustment. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) oversees an annual auction process that determines the Retail Price Adjustment, which reflects the suppliers' cost of delivering the gas from wherever it is produced to Enbridge Gas Ohio's system for delivery to customers.
I am currently on SCO. Can I participate in Energy Choice?
Yes. Enbridge Gas encourages you to review your gas supply options and pick the option with the price and plan that works best for you. For more information, visit energychoice.enbridgegas.com to learn about your energy choices.
Other valuable resources and insights are available from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel.
Will Enbridge Gas Ohio make money on this?
No. Enbridge Gas Ohio bills the SCO rate on behalf of the customers' SCO suppliers and makes no profit on the natural gas portion of the bill. Instead, Enbridge Gas recovers its operating costs and a return on its investment in pipelines and facilities through its delivery charges.
Will customers see changes in their service from Enbridge Gas Ohio?
No. Enbridge Gas continues to provide its current services, such as billing, meter reading, emergency response and answering bill and service questions.
Rate comparison charts
- Comparison of General Sales Service - Residential (GSS-R), Standard Choice Offer (SCO), and Energy Choice Transportation Service - Residential (ECTS-R) / Monthly Retail Rate (MRR)
- Comparison of General Sales Service - Business / nonresidential (GSS-NR) and Energy Choice Transportation Service - Nonresidential (ECTS-NR) / Monthly Retail Rate (MRR)
- Comparison of Large Volume General Sales Service (LVGSS) and Large Volume Energy Choice Transportation Service (LVECTS) / Monthly Retail Rates (MRR)
