An Ohio PUCO tariff filing is the document a regulated utility or competitive provider sends to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to set, change, or cancel the rates, terms, and conditions it charges Ohio customers. It is filed electronically into a Tariff Filing (TRF) docket through the PUCO’s Docketing Information System, often called DIS. No regulated company may bill a rate that is not on file in an approved tariff, so this filing is the legal backbone of every charge that shows up on an Ohio utility bill.
The process feels heavy because one wrong field, a missing notice date, or a skipped legal authority can get the whole filing rejected or suspended. The PUCO maintains active TRF dockets for hundreds of companies across electric, gas, water/sewer, steam, pipeline, and telephone service, and each filing is matched to its own permanent docket number that follows the company for decades. Get the format right once and you can repeat it for every future change.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📋 What a PUCO tariff filing is, who must file it, and the law behind it
- 🗂️ Every field on the TRF cover sheet and tariff sheet, explained line by line
- 👥 Three complete filled-out examples for an electric, gas, and telephone filer
- ⏱️ The 30-day notice rule, effective dates, and what happens after you file
- ⚠️ The mistakes that get filings rejected and how to avoid each one
What a PUCO Tariff Filing Is and Who Must File It
A tariff is the official rulebook of prices and service terms a utility files with the state. The PUCO tariff filing is the paperwork that creates a new tariff, changes an existing one, or withdraws a sheet. The Commission receives it, reviews it for legal and rate compliance, and either approves, suspends, or rejects it. The filing lives inside a TRF docket, which the PUCO’s Docketing Division assigns and tracks.
Every public utility and competitive provider regulated by the PUCO must keep a complete, current tariff on file at all times. This includes electric distribution utilities like Ohio Power Company, natural gas companies like Columbia Gas of Ohio, water and wastewater companies like Aqua Ohio, steam/district heating providers, intrastate pipelines, and the many telephone and competitive carriers in the state. If you bill an Ohio customer for a regulated service, your rate must trace back to an approved tariff sheet.
The legal authority comes mainly from Title 49 of the Revised Code and the Commission’s procedural rules in Chapter 4901-1 of the Administrative Code. Section 4905.30 of the Revised Code requires utilities to file schedules of rates, and section 4909.18 governs applications that increase rates. The plain-English point is simple: the law turns your private price list into a public, enforceable document. Ignore it and you cannot lawfully collect the charge, which can lead to refunds and Commission penalties. For example, a small gas company that bills a fee never placed in its tariff may be ordered to credit every affected customer.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything before you open the e-filing screen, because a half-built filing that times out or arrives incomplete gets rejected. The PUCO reviews each filing against your existing tariff on file, so you need to know exactly where your current rates stand. A clean checklist saves you from a suspended effective date.
- Your company’s legal name and any d/b/a. It must match your prior filings exactly, or staff cannot tie the filing to your docket.
- Your existing TRF docket number. Without it the system cannot route the filing, and a new docket may be opened in error.
- Your e-filing account login. You must have an e-file account and profile set up first, or you cannot submit at all.
- The current tariff sheets you are changing. You need the exact sheet numbers and revision numbers so the new sheets supersede the right pages.
- The proposed new or revised tariff sheets. These are the actual pages of rates and terms; missing pages mean an incomplete filing.
- The proposed effective date. It must respect the 30-day notice rule for most changes, or the Commission will reset it.
- The legal authority for the change. Cite the statute, rule, or prior Commission order; staff checks that you have the right to make the change.
- A reason or purpose statement. A short explanation of what the filing does helps staff classify and review it faster.
- Contact information for the filer. A name, phone, and email so staff can reach you about defects within the two-day cure window.
- Any required attachments or workpapers. Rate increase filings under section 4909.18 need supporting data, and missing workpapers stall review.
If any item is missing, the most common result is a rejection email explaining the defect, which costs you days and can push your effective date back. Treat this list as a pre-flight check every single time.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
There is no single paper “form” for most tariff changes. Instead, you build a filing package and submit it through the PUCO’s Docketing Information System. The package normally includes a cover letter or filing form, the proposed tariff sheets, and any required attachments. Telephone carriers use a dedicated Telecommunications Filing Form that doubles as the cover sheet.
To file electronically, first create your account through the PUCO’s electronic filing information page, then read the electronic filing manual and technical requirements linked there. The manual tells you the accepted file formats, size limits, and the order in which to upload documents. The Commission updated its DIS e-filing screen in 2025 with a new field for filers, so confirm you are looking at the current screen each time.
You can also view every company’s existing tariffs and TRF dockets to model your filing on past, approved examples. The PUCO publishes a master list under TRF case information, where each company has a permanent docket such as 89-6007-EL-TRF for Ohio Power Company. Pull your own docket, open the most recent approved filing, and copy its structure. If you are unsure of any step, the Docketing Division answers questions at 614-466-4095 or by email at Docketing@puco.ohio.gov.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the PUCO Tariff Filing Line by Line
This is the core of the filing. Work through each field in order. The cover sheet/filing form fields come first, then the tariff sheet fields. Use the exact labels shown in DIS and on the official filing form, and italicized text below shows sample entries exactly as they appear in the filing.
1. Company / Applicant Name
This field asks for the legal name of the company making the filing. Enter the full legal entity name as it appears on your certificate and prior tariffs, including any “Inc.,” “LLC,” or “Company,” plus any d/b/a in the form Legal Name DBA Trade Name. For example, an electric utility writes Ohio Power Company and a competitive carrier writes Granite Telecommunications, LLC. If your company recently changed names, list the new name with the former name noted as FKA so staff can connect it to the existing docket. The most common mistake is using a marketing brand instead of the legal entity, which breaks the link to your docket and can trigger a rejection. Many filers wrongly believe the name only needs to be “close enough,” but the PUCO matches names to its records exactly, and a mismatch stalls review.
2. Case / TRF Docket Number
This field asks which docket the filing belongs in. Enter your permanent TRF docket number in the PUCO format of year-number-industry-TRF, such as 89-8003-GA-TRF for Columbia Gas of Ohio. The industry code in the middle tells the system what kind of utility you are: EL for electric, GA for gas, TP and CT for telephone, ST for water/sewer, HT for steam/heat, PL for pipeline, and RC for wireless. A brand-new company with no docket leaves this blank and lets the Docketing Division assign one, which it does and then informs the applicant of the number. The biggest mistake here is guessing or transposing digits, which can route your filing into another company’s docket or a void case. Some filers think a new docket is opened for every change, but the same TRF docket follows your company for decades, and you reuse it each time.
3. Industry / Service Type Code
This field asks which regulated service the filing covers. Choose the code that matches the service: electric, gas, water/sewer, steam, pipeline, telephone, or wireless. A combination utility that provides both electric and gas service files separately under each code, so the gas change goes in the GA docket and the electric change in the EL docket. For example, Duke Energy Ohio uses 89-6002-EL-TRF for electric and 89-8002-GA-TRF for gas. The common error is mixing two services in one filing, which forces staff to split or reject it. People often assume one company means one docket, but each regulated service line has its own TRF docket and its own tariff.
4. Type of Filing / Purpose
This field asks what the filing does. State plainly whether you are introducing a new tariff, revising existing sheets, increasing rates, decreasing rates, or canceling a tariff, and write a short purpose line such as Revision to Sheet No. 12 to update the monthly customer charge. Be specific about the sheets affected and the change. For instance, a water company writes Application to increase rates pursuant to R.C. 4909.18, while a telephone carrier writes Zero-day notice tariff revision under Rule 4901:1-6-14. The frequent mistake is a vague purpose like “tariff update,” which gives staff no way to classify the filing and slows review. A common misconception is that the purpose line is optional boilerplate, but it is the first thing staff read to decide how your filing is handled.
5. Proposed Effective Date
This field asks when you want the new rates or terms to take effect. Enter the date in the format the system shows, and make sure it sits at least 30 days after the filing date for most changes, because many tariff changes require not less than thirty days’ notice. A natural gas company filing on June 1 normally enters an effective date no earlier than July 1. Some filings, such as certain competitive telephone rate changes, qualify for zero-day or automatic effective dates under specific rules. The biggest mistake is choosing a date inside the notice window, which leads the Commission to reset or suspend the date. Filers often believe they pick the effective date freely, but the law and the type of filing control how soon it can take effect.
6. Tariff Title Page (P.U.C.O. No.)
This field on the tariff sheet itself asks for the tariff number that identifies your whole price book. Enter it in the standard form P.U.C.O. No. 20 on the title page, and increase the number only when you issue an entirely new tariff that replaces the old one. For example, an electric utility’s title page reads The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, P.U.C.O. No. 13. When you only revise a sheet, you keep the same P.U.C.O. number and change the sheet revision instead. The common mistake is bumping the P.U.C.O. number for a routine sheet change, which makes it look like a full new tariff and confuses the record. Many assume the P.U.C.O. number and the sheet number are the same thing, but the P.U.C.O. number names the whole book while the sheet number names one page.
7. Sheet Number and Revision Number
This field asks which page of the tariff you are filing and which version it is. Label each page as Original Sheet No. 5 the first time, then First Revised Sheet No. 5, Second Revised Sheet No. 5, and so on for each later change. The new sheet must state that it cancels the prior version, shown as First Revised Sheet No. 5 Cancels Original Sheet No. 5. For example, Aqua Ohio revising its rate page files Third Revised Sheet No. 8 Cancels Second Revised Sheet No. 8. The most common mistake is a wrong or duplicate revision number, which breaks the chain and leaves staff unsure which page is current. People often think they can simply overwrite the old page, but each revision must be numbered and must cancel the exact prior sheet it replaces.
8. Rate Schedules and Service Terms (Body of the Sheet)
This field is the substance of the tariff: the actual rates, charges, and rules of service. Lay out each rate with its schedule name, the customer class it applies to, the unit, and the price, then state any terms such as deposits, late fees, or service conditions. For example, a gas company lists Monthly Customer Charge: $11.50 under Rate Schedule GS-Residential. Keep formatting consistent with your existing sheets so the change is easy to spot. The biggest mistake is a rate in the body that does not match the rate in your application or workpapers, which is a red flag that triggers questions or suspension. A common misconception is that small wording changes do not matter, but every term in the body is enforceable, so an unclear clause becomes the rule you must live by.
9. Issued By / Issued Date Line
This field asks who is issuing the tariff and when. Enter the officer’s name and title, the issue date, and the effective date at the bottom of each sheet, such as Issued: June 1, 2026, Effective: July 1, 2026, Issued by Jane Smith, Vice President. This line ties the sheet to a responsible person and fixes the dates of record. For a competitive carrier, it might read Issued by Marcus Lee, Director of Regulatory Affairs. The common mistake is a missing or stale issue date, which makes it impossible to tell the sequence of changes. Filers sometimes think this line is a formality, but it is the official signature block of the tariff sheet and the Commission relies on it to order the record.
10. Filer Certification and Contact Block
This field asks the person submitting the filing to identify themselves and certify the filing. Enter the filer’s name, title, company, phone, and email, and confirm the filing is complete and accurate. For example, Filed by Robert Chen, Regulatory Counsel, 614-555-0100, rchen@example.com. This is the person the Docketing Division contacts if the filing has a defect that must be cured within two business days. The biggest mistake is a bad phone number or email, because if staff cannot reach you about a defect, the document can be stricken. Many filers assume an attorney must sign, but a company representative may file, as long as the contact information actually reaches a person who can fix problems fast.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three complete walkthroughs following named filers from start to finish. Each table shows what the filer enters in the key fields.
Example 1 — Maria Lopez files an electric rate-schedule revision for a distribution utility
| Filing Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Company / Applicant Name | Ohio Power Company |
| TRF Docket Number | 89-6007-EL-TRF |
| Industry / Service Type | Electric (EL) |
| Type of Filing / Purpose | Revision to update the residential monthly customer charge |
| Proposed Effective Date | July 1, 2026 |
| Tariff Title Page | P.U.C.O. No. 21 |
| Sheet / Revision Number | First Revised Sheet No. 14 Cancels Original Sheet No. 14 |
| Rate Body Entry | Monthly Customer Charge: $14.00 |
| Issued By Line | Issued by Maria Lopez, VP Regulatory |
| Legal Authority Cited | R.C. 4905.30 |
Example 2 — David Nguyen files a natural gas rate increase application
| Filing Section | What David Enters |
|---|---|
| Company / Applicant Name | Columbia Gas of Ohio, Inc. |
| TRF Docket Number | 89-8003-GA-TRF |
| Industry / Service Type | Gas (GA) |
| Type of Filing / Purpose | Application to increase rates under R.C. 4909.18 |
| Proposed Effective Date | September 1, 2026 |
| Tariff Title Page | P.U.C.O. No. 9 |
| Sheet / Revision Number | Second Revised Sheet No. 7 Cancels First Revised Sheet No. 7 |
| Rate Body Entry | Monthly Customer Charge: $11.50 |
| Required Attachment | Supporting workpapers and one paper copy to Docketing |
| Issued By Line | Issued by David Nguyen, Director of Rates |
Example 3 — Aisha Patel files a competitive telephone tariff revision
| Filing Section | What Aisha Enters |
|---|---|
| Company / Applicant Name | Granite Telecommunications, LLC |
| TRF Docket Number | 90-9272-TP-TRF |
| Industry / Service Type | Telephone (TP) |
| Type of Filing / Purpose | Zero-day notice revision to business local rates |
| Proposed Effective Date | June 2, 2026 |
| Tariff Title Page | P.U.C.O. No. 3 |
| Sheet / Revision Number | First Revised Sheet No. 5 Cancels Original Sheet No. 5 |
| Rate Body Entry | Business Line Monthly Rate: $42.00 |
| Filing Form Used | Telecommunications Filing Form |
| Issued By Line | Issued by Aisha Patel, Regulatory Manager |
How to File the Completed Form
The PUCO accepts filings through three channels, and electronic filing is the standard for tariffs. Pick the channel that fits your filing and keep proof of what you sent.
- Electronic filing (preferred). Submit through the Docketing Information System after setting up your e-file account. There is no filing fee for e-filing tariff documents, an e-filed document is considered filed at the date and time on the confirmation page, and anything received after 5:30 p.m. counts as filed at 7:30 a.m. the next business day. Save the confirmation page as your proof of filing, and file by 4 p.m. to allow same-day review.
- Paper filing. Mail or deliver to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, Docketing Division, 180 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215-3793. You must include the original plus the required number of copies, or as an alternative submit twenty copies, and keep your date-stamped copy as proof. The office is open 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except state holidays.
- Fax filing. Allowed only for documents that may be faxed, sent to 614-466-0313, but you must first call the Docketing Division at 614-466-4095 by 5 p.m. to announce the fax, keep it to 30 pages or fewer, and deliver the original and copies the next business day. An initial pleading that opens a case may not be faxed.
For rate increase applications under section 4909.18, you must e-file and also submit one complete paper copy to Docketing on the same day, and contact the rate case manager about how many additional paper copies staff needs. Keep every confirmation, date-stamp, and email in one folder for your records.
What Happens After You File
Once your filing arrives, the Docketing Division date-stamps it and posts it to your TRF docket, where it becomes public unless you have a protective order. Staff reviews the filing for completeness and legal compliance. If something is wrong, you get a rejection email naming the defect, and for paper copy shortfalls you have two business days to cure before the document can be stricken.
For routine revisions that follow the rules, the tariff can take effect on the noticed effective date without a formal order. For rate increases and more significant changes, the Commission may suspend the effective date to investigate, open a review schedule, and issue an order approving, modifying, or denying the change. During a rate case, parties have 30 days after an order to ask the Commission to rehear or change its decision.
Once approved, your new sheets become the official tariff of record and supersede the canceled pages. You may then lawfully bill the new rates as of the effective date. The PUCO lists Commission-approved final tariffs in DIS, and you can confirm yours posted by pulling your docket. From that point, the approved sheet is the only rate you can charge until your next filing changes it.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
Each error below has stopped real filings. Read the consequence before you submit.
- Using a brand name instead of the legal entity name, which breaks the link to your docket and triggers rejection.
- Entering the wrong TRF docket number, which can route the filing into another company’s case or a void case.
- Mixing two service types in one filing, which forces staff to split or reject it.
- Choosing an effective date inside the 30-day notice window, which causes the Commission to reset or suspend the date.
- Bumping the P.U.C.O. number for a routine change, which makes a simple revision look like a whole new tariff.
- Skipping the “cancels” language on a revised sheet, which breaks the revision chain and confuses the record.
- Filing a rate in the body that does not match the application or workpapers, which is a red flag that draws suspension.
- Omitting the issue date or issued-by line, which makes the sequence of changes impossible to track.
- Forgetting the supporting workpapers on a 4909.18 rate increase, which stalls the entire review.
- Missing the required paper copy for a rate case, which can get the document stricken after the two-day cure period.
- Filing after 5:30 p.m. and assuming same-day credit, when it actually counts as filed the next business day.
- Using a bad contact phone or email, so staff cannot reach you to fix a defect in time.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do: – Pull your existing approved tariff first, because copying its structure prevents format errors. – Confirm your TRF docket number against the PUCO list, since the right docket routes the filing correctly. – Build the full package before opening DIS, so the session does not time out mid-filing. – File by 4 p.m., because it gives staff time for same-day review and acceptance. – Save every confirmation page, since it is your only proof of the filing date and time. – Call Docketing at 614-466-4095 when unsure, because a quick question beats a rejection.
Don’t: – Don’t guess an effective date, because the wrong date gets the filing suspended. – Don’t mix services in one filing, since each service needs its own docket. – Don’t fax an initial case-opening pleading, because the rules forbid it. – Don’t request confidential treatment through e-filing, since protected documents must use another channel. – Don’t reuse an old sheet number without the proper revision, because it breaks the chain of record. – Don’t ignore a rejection email, since the cure window is short and closes fast.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
| Filing on Your Own | Filing With a Regulatory Attorney or Consultant |
|---|---|
| Saves professional fees, which helps a small utility’s budget. | Costs money, which can be significant for a full rate case. |
| You learn your own tariff deeply, so future filings are faster. | Frees your staff time, since the expert handles the mechanics. |
| Works well for routine, low-risk sheet revisions. | Best for rate increases, where errors are costly. |
| Direct control over timing, so you file when ready. | Catches legal and format errors before staff does. |
| Builds an in-house relationship with Docketing staff. | Brings precedent knowledge, which strengthens contested cases. |
| Risk of rejection rises without experience on complex filings. | Less hands-on control, since you rely on the outside filer. |
Key Entities That Interact With This Filing
Several bodies and rules shape every tariff filing. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio receives, reviews, and approves the filing. The PUCO’s Docketing Division assigns the TRF docket and date-stamps each document. The Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 4901-1 sets the procedural rules for how you file, and Revised Code Chapter 4905 and section 4909.18 set the substantive law for rates. The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel may intervene in rate cases to represent residential customers, which can shape the outcome of a contested filing.
FAQs
Do I need a separate filing for each utility service my company provides?
Yes. Each regulated service has its own TRF docket and tariff, so a combination electric-and-gas company files the electric change in its EL docket and the gas change in its GA docket separately.
Is there a fee to file a tariff electronically with the PUCO?
No. The PUCO does not charge a fee to e-file tariff documents through the Docketing Information System, though rate case applications carry their own statutory and review obligations.
Do I write my company’s brand name or legal name in the applicant field?
No. You write the full legal entity name as it appears on your prior tariffs, adding any d/b/a, because the PUCO matches names to its records exactly.
Do I keep the same P.U.C.O. number when I only revise one sheet?
Yes. The P.U.C.O. number names your whole tariff book, so a single-page change keeps that number and only the sheet’s revision number increases.
Do most tariff changes require 30 days’ notice before they take effect?
Yes. Many changes require not less than thirty days’ notice, so your proposed effective date should sit at least 30 days after the filing date unless a specific rule allows a shorter period.
Do I write “First Revised Sheet No. 5” or just overwrite the old sheet?
No. You never overwrite; you file a numbered revised sheet that states it cancels the exact prior sheet it replaces, keeping the chain of record intact.
Is an e-filing made at 6 p.m. considered filed that same day?
No. Any e-filed document received after 5:30 p.m. is considered filed at 7:30 a.m. the next business day, so file by 4 p.m. for same-day handling.
Do I need an attorney to submit a tariff filing?
No. A company representative may file, though a regulatory attorney is wise for rate increases and contested cases where errors are costly.
Do I have to submit a paper copy for an electronic rate increase application?
Yes. A utility e-filing a rate increase under section 4909.18 must also submit one complete paper copy to Docketing the same day and confirm how many extra copies staff needs.
Can I fax the pleading that opens my tariff case?
No. The rules forbid faxing an initial case-opening pleading or any document seeking confidential treatment, so use e-filing or paper for those.
Do I get a chance to fix a filing that is missing copies?
Yes. The Docketing Division gives you two business days after notice to submit the required copies before the document may be stricken from the case file.
Can I see other companies’ approved tariffs to model mine?
Yes. The PUCO publishes every company’s TRF docket in DIS and a master list under TRF case information, so you can open an approved filing and copy its structure.
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