SOPEC — Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council

What SOPEC — Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council does

SOPEC (Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council) is a regional council of governments organized under Chapter 167 of the Ohio Revised Code, operating as a shared governmental energy office from its Athens, Ohio headquarters with regional offices in Cleveland, Dayton, and Upper Arlington. Founded in 2014, it functions as a statewide energy aggregator serving 40+ member communities — including cities, villages, townships, counties, libraries, metroparks, and transit authorities — by pooling residential and small commercial electric accounts, and separately natural gas accounts, to negotiate competitive supply rates through opt-out governmental aggregation.

The core product is the Electric Aggregation Program (a Community Choice Aggregation program), which uses Competitive Retail Electric Service providers (primarily AEP Energy) to supply electricity, while local distribution utilities (AEP Ohio, AES Ohio, The Illuminating Company) continue billing and delivery. Complementary offerings include the opt-in Public Pricing Program (P3) providing historically 15–28% lower rates for public-sector customers, a Natural Gas Aggregation Program structured as winter price protection, the Ohio Solar Assessment Program offering free on-site assessments with USDA REAP grant support, a Net Metering program, the RIDES EV Charging Infrastructure Initiative funded by federal grants, the Athens Public Solar Fund (financed by the Athens Carbon Fee), and the Stop the Knock Registry for consumer protection.

Revenue mechanics are subscription/dues-based: membership dues and program administration fees from member governments and program participants, supplemented by federal and state grant funding (USDA Rural Development, Federal Highway Administration CFI grants, Ohio Air Quality Development Authority CAIP) for green initiatives. The organization is governed by a general assembly and board of directors composed of elected officials and member representatives, with 22 employees and no disclosed revenue.

Name

SOPEC — Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council

Legal name

Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council

Website

https://sopec-oh.gov

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SOPEC is an Ohio regional council of governments, founded 2014, that aggregates residential, small commercial, and public-sector electricity and natural gas accounts across 40+ member communities to negotiate competitive supply rates and deliver sustainability programs including solar assessments and EV charging infrastructure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Athens

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Electric Aggregation Program Fees: SOPEC aggregates residential and small commercial electric utility accounts to secure competitive supply rates from Competitive Retail Electric Service (CRES) providers. Revenue is generated through fees associated with managing the aggregation programs for member communities. The organization negotiates bulk purchasing rates and passes savings along to customers.
2. Natural Gas Aggregation Program Fees: Natural gas aggregation provides price protection and stable, predictable winter heating costs. The program is structured as an insurance product to protect residents from volatile market prices rather than guaranteeing savings year-round.
3. Public Pricing Program (P3) Fees: An opt-in electric supply rate program for public-sector customers including local governments, non-profits, faith-based entities, and public agencies. Provides historically 15-28% lower rates than the opt-out electric aggregation rate.
4. Membership Dues: SOPEC operates as a shared energy office providing pooled services to member communities. Revenue supports administrative, financial, and legal services required for high-value public energy programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SOPEC is a regional council of governments under Chapter 167 of the Ohio Revised Code that aggregates the electricity and natural gas purchasing power of member Ohio communities (cities, villages, townships, counties, libraries, school districts). It offers electric and natural gas aggregation programs, a Public Pricing Program (P3), the Ohio Solar Assessment Program, the Athens Public Solar Fund, net metering, RIDES EV charging infrastructure, and the Stop the Knock Registry, using an opt-out enrollment model for residential and small commercial customers.

Product overview

SOPEC is a regional council of governments functioning as a statewide energy aggregator and shared energy office under Chapter 167 of the Ohio Revised Code. The core offering is the Electric Aggregation Program (a Community Choice Aggregation program) that bundles residential and small commercial accounts to negotiate competitive electricity rates from CRES providers like AEP Energy. Complementary programs include the Public Pricing Program (P3) for public-sector customers, Natural Gas Aggregation for price protection, and the Ohio Solar Assessment Program providing free solar assessments with USDA REAP grant support. Additional services encompass Net Metering for solar producers, Energy Efficiency Resources, the Stop the Knock Registry for consumer protection, and the RIDES EV charging infrastructure initiative. The Athens Public Solar Fund represents a local carbon fee initiative for solar development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electric Aggregation Program Aggregated electric supply program for member Ohio communities (cities, villages, townships, counties, libraries, school districts) using an opt-out model to enroll residential and small commercial customers with AEP Energy as the CRES provider.
• Natural Gas Aggregation Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $12 million saved by Cleveland residents and small businesses in first year of program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• AEP EnergycoreTechnology or IntegrationAEP Energy serves as the Competitive Retail Electric Service (CRES) provider supplying electricity to SOPEC's Electric Aggregation Program. Customers enrolled in SOPEC's aggregation see AEP Energy listed as their Generation Supplier on their electric bills. AEP Energy also provides net metering services for SOPEC customers with solar installations.
• USDA Rural Development (Ohio State Office)coreOthersUSDA Rural Development State Office supports SOPEC's Solar Assessment Program by funding free solar assessments and Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant preparation assistance for rural small businesses and agricultural producers. REAP grants provide up to 25% reimbursement of eligible project costs.
• RePower Network CooperativesecondaryTechnology or IntegrationSolar assessment provider for SOPEC's Ohio Solar Assessment Program. The cooperative focuses on advancing the transition to a clean and just energy economy. Co-owner Morgan Hager independently provides solar assessments for SOPEC applicants.
• SolarPV TrainingsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationSolar assessment provider for SOPEC applicants. Founded by Jay Warmke, who has trained over 700 solar installers across the Midwest and authored the most widely adopted solar training curriculum in North America.
• Standard FintechsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationRenewable energy development firm providing solar assessments for SOPEC. Specializes in solar and energy storage projects for municipalities, schools, and businesses. Renewable Energy Developer Dylan Worden provides assessments.
• Hocking Valley BanksecondaryOthersFinancial institution holding the Athens Public Solar Fund where Athens Carbon Fee revenues are deposited for future development of solar PV systems on public buildings within the City of Athens.
• AEP OhiocoreOthersElectric utility in SOPEC communities that continues to bill customers for electricity service, maintain poles and lines, and respond to power outages. Serves as the local distribution utility.
• AES OhiosecondaryOthersElectric utility serving portions of SOPEC communities, continuing to provide billing, delivery, and infrastructure maintenance services.
• The Illuminating CompanysecondaryOthersElectric utility serving portions of SOPEC communities, continuing to provide billing, delivery, and infrastructure maintenance services.
• Appalachian Solar Finance FundsecondaryOthersProvides technical assistance and credit enhancements for solar projects in coal-impacted counties of central Appalachia. Commercial businesses serving as anchor institutions are eligible for support.
• Ohio Air Quality Development AuthoritysecondaryOthersState agency whose Clean Air Improvement Program (CAIP) supports businesses in making investments in cleaner, more efficient technologies including pollution control, energy efficiency, and renewable energy.
• Kokosing SolarsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationDesign and construction provider for the 2+ MW Athens Eastside Solar Project, which includes the Athens City Pool solar array.
• Federal Highway AdministrationcoreOthersFederal agency providing funding through Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Community and Corridor grants for the RIDES EV charging infrastructure project.
• DriveOhiosecondaryOthersState agency involved in the RIDES project for EV charging infrastructure development across Ohio.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• AEP Energy: Competitive Retail Electric Service provider supplying generation to SOPEC's Electric Aggregation Program. Comparable as a retail energy supplier that competes for commercial and industrial customers in Ohio's deregulated market, but operates as a for-profit entity rather than a governmental council.
• Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD): Publicly owned vertically integrated electric utility serving the Sacramento region. A broader incumbent analog to SOPEC's municipal energy aggregation function, though operating under a different public-power model (IOU replacement rather than CCA overlay).

Direct peers

• East Bay Community Energy: California Community Choice Aggregation serving Alameda County communities. Directly comparable aggregation model with opt-out enrollment, default residential service, and opt-in greener products.
• MCE Clean Energy: California Community Choice Aggregation serving Marin, Napa, Contra Costa, and Solano counties. Directly comparable to SOPEC as a load-aggregation entity offering default residential service plus opt-in green tiers.
• Cape Light Compact: Massachusetts regional governmental energy aggregator operating under a statutory compact structure — very similar to SOPEC's Chapter 167 council-of-governments framework. Aggregates electricity supply on behalf of Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard municipalities.
• Sonoma Clean Power: California Community Choice Aggregation program serving Sonoma and neighboring counties. Closely comparable to SOPEC in operating model: governmental aggregator procuring electricity on behalf of residents and businesses, with opt-out enrollment and a focus on renewable content.
• Silicon Valley Clean Energy: California Community Choice Aggregation serving Santa Clara County municipalities. Comparable to SOPEC in providing default electric supply, opt-out enrollment, and additional renewable energy programs.
• San José Clean Energy: Municipal Community Choice Aggregation operated by the City of San José. Comparable aggregation model delivering default electric supply with renewable content options for residential and commercial customers.
• Peninsula Clean Energy: California Community Choice Aggregation serving San Mateo County. Directly comparable to SOPEC: governmental aggregator providing default electric supply with higher renewable content options for residential and commercial customers.
• San Diego Community Power: California Community Choice Aggregation serving the City of San Diego and several surrounding communities. Comparable as a governmental aggregator offering default electric supply with progressive renewable content tiers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SOPEC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sopec-sustainable
• Instagraminstagram.com/sopec_energy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SOPEC — Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council