Public utilities in Ohio are heavily regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), ensuring reliable access for residents and businesses.
* **Electricity:** The major investor-owned electric utilities include AEP Ohio, FirstEnergy (Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company, Toledo Edison), Duke Energy Ohio, and AES Ohio. * **Natural Gas:** Primary providers include Columbia Gas of Ohio, Dominion Energy Ohio, Enbridge Gas Ohio, and Duke Energy. * **Water & Sewer:** Water utilities are typically managed at the municipal or county level. Notable regional providers include Cleveland Water (serving the Greater Cleveland area), Columbus Public Utilities, and Greater Cincinnati Water Works. * **Waste Management:** Handled by a mix of municipal public works departments and private companies like Rumpke Waste & Recycling, Waste Management (WM), and Republic Services. * **Telecommunications/Broadband:** Served by major national carriers including Spectrum, AT&T, Breezeline, and an expanding network of rural electric cooperative fiber networks.