Duke Energy Ohio for Cannabis Facilities: Rate DS Demand, SSO, and Cincinnati-Area Delivery
Duke Energy Ohio serves Cincinnati and southwestern Ohio in PJM under P.U.C.O. Electric No. 20. Small loads take Rate DM without demand metering; demand-metered secondary customers take Rate DS and primary-voltage customers take Rate DP, both billing distribution per kW of billing demand. Default supply is the Standard Service Offer reset every June 1, and any commercial customer may enroll with a PUCO-certified CRES provider while Duke keeps delivery.
Service area and grid operator
Duke Energy Ohio serves Cincinnati and southwestern Ohio including Hamilton, Butler, Warren, and Clermont counties [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs]. It is a combined electric and gas utility sitting in PJM [oh-energychoice-glossary]. Customer-choice rate and tariff links are published on Duke's Ohio Customer Choice page [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs].
Hamilton County holds a growing cluster of dual-use dispensaries under Ohio's 400-store cap [oh-lsc-sb56-final-analysis]. Southwestern Ohio has fewer cultivators than central or northern Ohio, but processors and dispensaries in the Cincinnati metro are Duke accounts.
Delivery classes under P.U.C.O. Electric No. 20
Duke Energy Ohio's distribution tariffs organize as follows [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs]:
| Rate | Sheet | Description | Typical cannabis account |
|---|---|---|---|
| DM | Sheet 43 | Secondary Distribution Small Service | Dispensaries, small offices |
| DS | Sheet 40 | Secondary Distribution Service, demand-metered | Grows, processors |
| DP | Sheet 44 | Primary Distribution Service | Larger grows at primary voltage |
Rate DM serves small non-demand loads. Rates DS and DP bill distribution per kW of billing demand [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs]. Confirm current $/kW figures and any minimum-demand provisions on the tariff sheets before quoting a facility.
Demand charge structure
Once an account moves to Rate DS, the highest 15-minute demand in the billing period drives the per-kW distribution line [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs]. Cultivators with simultaneous lighting and dehumidification starts set summer peaks. Processors with batch equipment spikes face the same logic on a smaller scale.
Primary-voltage service through Rate DP may reduce per-kW distribution cost for large loads but requires customer-owned transformer and primary infrastructure [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs]. Review DP availability during buildout.
See demand charges explained and utility rate classes.
Default supply and CRES choice
Customers who do not choose receive the Standard Service Offer from PUCO-supervised wholesale auctions, reset every June 1 [oh-energychoice-glossary]. The Price to Compare on Apples to Apples is the comparison benchmark [oh-energychoice-glossary].
Any commercial customer may enroll with a PUCO-certified CRES provider [oh-energychoice-glossary]. Duke Energy Ohio continues delivering power and billing distribution and transmission riders. Supply charges move to the CRES line.
PJM capacity and NITS pass-throughs apply to both SSO and CRES products [oh-energychoice-glossary]. Confirm pass-through treatment in any supplier quote.
Billing options
Consolidated Duke billing with CRES supply on the same statement is typical. H.B. 15 allows CRES direct billing in future years [oh-energychoice-glossary].
Buildout coordination
Cannabis facilities in industrial parks around Cincinnati should confirm whether the park meter is demand-metered at the landlord level. Account name and service size decisions during design lock in DM vs DS placement for years.
Cincinnati-area cannabis footprint
Hamilton County anchors southwestern Ohio's dispensary cluster under the 400-store cap after S.B. 56 [oh-lsc-sb56-final-analysis]. Cultivators are fewer in Duke territory than in AEP or FirstEnergy regions, but processors serving the Cincinnati metro often locate in Butler or Clermont county industrial parks [oh-dcc-cultivators-processors]. Every account is a Duke Energy Ohio delivery customer with CRES choice on supply [oh-energychoice-glossary].
Strip-mall dispensaries in Forest Park or Kenwood commonly share landlord meters. Confirm the account holder before requesting CRES quotes. A store on Rate DM with 12,000 kWh monthly use pays primarily per kWh; supply choice against the June 1 Price to Compare still matters even without demand charges [oh-energychoice-glossary].
Comparing Duke to neighboring IOU benchmarks
A processor in Middletown might compare Duke DS demand billing against what the same load would cost on AES Ohio D20 or AEP GS-3 across the street in different territories. Each IOU runs its own SSO auction outcome on June 1 [oh-energychoice-glossary]. Duke commercial customers benchmark against Duke's Apples to Apples column, not AEP's.
Assume a 260 kW peak processor on Rate DS with 110,000 kWh monthly use. At Ohio's 13.77 cents/kWh commercial average [eia-epm-5-6-a], energy is about $15,150 per month before per-kW delivery. Pull the current DS sheet 40 per-kW figure from the tariff book linked on Duke's customer choice page [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs] before budgeting demand.
Gas and dual-fuel considerations
Duke Energy Ohio is a combined electric and gas utility [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs]. Extraction facilities using gas-fired heat for make-up air or solvent recovery still need to coordinate electric demand with gas tariffs separately. Electric CRES choice does not affect gas supply contracts.
H.B. 15 delivery changes ahead
House Bill 15 requires Duke and the other Ohio IOUs to file distribution rate cases at least every three years and repeals legacy ESP riders [occ-hb15]. Cannabis facilities on long-term leases should track PUCO dockets for Duke Electric No. 20 amendments that could shift per-kW delivery between rate cases.
Interconnection timelines for greenfield grows
Greenfield service in southwestern Ohio industrial parks requires Duke line extension studies [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs]. Level II cultivators planning 15,000 square foot expansion should submit load letters at 120 percent of expected peak to avoid second extension fees when canopy fills in [oh-lsc-sb56-final-analysis].
PJM zone consistency with AEP Columbus
Duke and AEP Ohio share PJM pass-through mechanics [oh-energychoice-glossary]. MSOs with Cincinnati processing and Columbus cultivation can sometimes use one supplier legal framework with two IOU enrollments, simplifying legal review.
Hamilton County dual-use stores within one mile of existing dispensaries face S.B. 56 spacing scrutiny during licensing [oh-lsc-sb56-final-analysis]. Site selection should confirm electric service capacity before lease signing because spacing denials are not refundable but engineering studies are [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs].
Cincinnati metro territory and rate schedules
Duke Energy Ohio serves Hamilton, Butler, Warren, and Clermont counties around Cincinnati in PJM [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs]. Distribution service is under P.U.C.O. Electric No. 20: Rate DM for small non-demand loads, Rate DS for demand-metered secondary customers, and Rate DP for primary-voltage customers [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs]. DS and DP bill distribution per kW of billing demand; confirm current figures on tariff sheets before quoting [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs].
Southwest Ohio cannabis siting
Southwestern Ohio holds fewer Level I cultivators than central or northern Ohio, but Cincinnati and Dayton corridor dispensaries and processors cluster on Duke and AES territories respectively [oh-lsc-sb56-final-analysis]. Operators comparing Hamilton County buildout against Montgomery County should request preliminary class letters from Duke and AES using the same load letter [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs] [aes-ohio-rates].
Combined electric and gas utility considerations
Duke is a combined electric and gas utility in Ohio [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs]. Extraction facilities using gas-fired process heat still face electric demand for C1D1 ventilation and chillers. Coordinate gas and electric service applications so witness tests reflect simultaneous peak load [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs].
Clermont and Warren county growth
Southwestern Ohio counties continue to add dispensary and light-industrial cannabis uses on Duke [oh-lsc-sb56-final-analysis]. Rate DM customers approaching demand thresholds should request DS classification review before summer peak season [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs]. CRES enrollment follows standard Ohio mechanics: supplier submits, switch at next read [oh-energychoice-glossary]. Duke gas service on the same account does not affect electric class placement [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs].
Witness test and load letter accuracy
Underestimating expected max demand on the load letter can assign Rate DM initially and trigger reclassification when flower rooms energize [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs]. Bring engineer to witness test with simultaneous load plan [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs]. CRES RFP should start at service application, not certificate of occupancy [oh-energychoice-glossary].
Cincinnati dispensary corridor
Hamilton County dual-use dispensaries cluster on Duke Rate DM and small GS schedules [oh-lsc-sb56-final-analysis]. Supply choice still applies; aggregate chain kWh for RFPs [oh-energychoice-glossary]. Processors south of Dayton may sit on Duke while Dayton proper is AES [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs] [aes-ohio-rates].
Southwest Ohio service planning
Hamilton, Butler, Warren, and Clermont counties use P.U.C.O. Electric No. 20 schedules DM, DS, and DP [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs]. Demand-metered DS accounts bill distribution per kW of billing demand [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs]. Primary DP requires customer transformer ownership [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs]. Witness tests need engineer attendance with load schedule [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs].
Combined gas service does not alter electric class [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs]. CRES enrollment follows statewide next-read mechanics [oh-energychoice-glossary]. Compare AES Dayton territory using same load letter when siting between Montgomery and Hamilton counties [aes-ohio-rates] [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs].
Request preliminary class letter during lease option period in Hamilton County industrial parks [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs].
Compliance and documentation practices
Maintain a utility folder with the current tariff PDF, last twelve months of bills, interval exports, queue confirmation letters where applicable, CRES contracts, and witness test reports [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs]. Update the folder after every rate case order and every June benchmark reset [oh-energychoice-glossary]. Facility managers should reconcile billing demand to interval peaks monthly and escalate discrepancies to the utility account manager before paying disputed invoices [oh-lsc-sb56-final-analysis]. Corporate finance should map utility COGS to cultivation, processing, or retail cost centers consistently across sites so board reporting reflects operational reality rather than blended averages [oh-dcc-cultivators-processors]. Legal should keep meter assignment language in leases aligned with the license holder entity on the utility account [eia-epm-5-6-a].
Request preliminary class letter during lease option period in Hamilton County industrial parks [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs].
Compliance and documentation practices
Maintain a utility folder with the current tariff PDF, last twelve months of bills, interval exports, queue confirmation letters where applicable, CRES contracts, and witness test reports [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs]. Update the folder after every rate case order and every June benchmark reset [oh-energychoice-glossary]. Facility managers should reconcile billing demand to interval peaks monthly and escalate discrepancies to the utility account manager before paying disputed invoices [oh-lsc-sb56-final-analysis]. Corporate finance should map utility COGS to cultivation, processing, or retail cost centers consistently across sites [oh-dcc-cultivators-processors]. Legal should keep meter assignment language in leases aligned with the license holder entity on the utility account [eia-epm-5-6-a].
Related reading
- Ohio hub: market overview
- Commercial electricity rates: cross-IOU benchmarks
- How to switch suppliers: enrollment procedure
Frequently asked questions
What territory does Duke Energy Ohio serve?
Duke Energy Ohio serves Cincinnati and southwestern Ohio including Hamilton, Butler, Warren, and Clermont counties. It is a combined electric and gas utility in PJM.
What rate classes apply to cannabis facilities?
Rate DM covers secondary distribution small service without demand metering. Rate DS covers demand-metered secondary customers. Rate DP covers primary-voltage customers. DS and DP bill distribution per kW of billing demand.
When does a dispensary move from DM to DS?
When peak demand exceeds the DM schedule threshold and Duke installs demand metering. Most standalone dispensaries stay on DM; cultivators and processors typically land on DS or DP.
What is the default supply benchmark?
The Standard Service Offer from PUCO-supervised auctions, reset every June 1. Compare against the Price to Compare on the PUCO Apples to Apples chart for eligible accounts.
Can I switch to a CRES supplier?
Yes. All commercial customers of Duke Energy Ohio may buy generation from a PUCO-certified CRES provider. Delivery charges stay the same.
Does Duke offer cannabis-specific efficiency programs?
Duke Energy Ohio publishes business efficiency programs on its website. Ohio ended its statewide efficiency mandate in 2020, so confirm current measure lists before purchasing equipment.
Related reading
- Ohio Cannabis Energy: Electricity Choice, Rates, and Utilities for Licensed Operators
Ohio cannabis electricity: PUCO choice, four IOU territories, PJM capacity, June 2026 rates vs. the U.S., and cultivator incentives after S.B. 56.
- AEP Ohio for Cannabis Facilities: Delivery Classes, Demand Charges, SSO, and CRES Billing
How AEP Ohio bills a cannabis grow, lab, or dispensary: GS-1 through GS-4, per-kW distribution demand, PJM, Standard Service Offer, and efficiency programs.
- Ohio Commercial Electricity Rates for Cannabis Facilities: IOU Classes, SSO Benchmarks, and PJM Context
Ohio commercial power prices vs. the U.S., AEP and FirstEnergy delivery classes, Standard Service Offer Price to Compare, and PJM capacity pass-throughs.
- How to Switch Electricity Suppliers in Ohio: A Step-by-Step Guide for Cannabis Businesses
How an Ohio commercial account enrolls with a PUCO-certified CRES provider: eligibility, Price to Compare, Apples to Apples, enrollment, and contract rules.
- Ohio Cannabis Dispensary Retail Energy: Small-Commercial Rates and Supply Choice for Dual-Use Stores
What an Ohio dual-use dispensary pays for power: GS-1 and small commercial classes, retail HVAC and security loads, and CRES supply vs. the Price to Compare.
- Demand Charges Explained for Cannabis Cultivators
What a demand charge is, how utilities measure peak kW in 15- or 30-minute windows, why grow rooms get hit hard, how ratchets work, and a worked example.
- Utility Rate Classes Explained: Small Commercial, Large Commercial, C&I
How utilities assign small, large, and C&I rate classes by peak kW, why the wrong class costs money, real tariff examples, and how to request a class review.
Jason Taken founded Jaken Energy, the commercial energy procurement practice behind this site. He works with licensed cannabis operators in deregulated electricity markets to lower supply rates, manage demand charges, and evaluate efficiency upgrades.
Sources
Inline citations in this article, such as [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs], refer to the entries below. Links open the primary source in a new tab.
- [duke-ohio-choice-tariffs]Ohio Customer Choice Rates and Tariffs — Duke Energy Ohio. Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [oh-energychoice-glossary]Energy Choice Ohio: Glossary of Terms and Apples to Apples comparison charts — Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [oh-lsc-sb56-final-analysis]S.B. 56, 136th General Assembly, Final Analysis (corrected version), April 2, 2026 — Ohio Legislative Service Commission, Office of Research and Drafting. Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [oh-dcc-cultivators-processors]Division of Cannabis Control: Cultivators & Processors — Ohio Department of Commerce. Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [eia-epm-5-6-a]Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: Average Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector, by State, June 2026 and June 2025 — U.S. Energy Information Administration. Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [occ-hb15]Governor DeWine Signs House Bill 15, Marking a Win for Ohio Consumers — Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel. Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [aes-ohio-rates]Rates and tariffs — AES Ohio. Accessed 2026-09-11.