PowerLines Launches Tools to Track Utility Costs and Election-Year Promises Nationwide

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Interactive resources show how gubernatorial and public utility commission candidates are talking about energy affordability, and what utilities are charging and spending in every state.

PowerLines, a nonpartisan consumer education nonprofit, has launched two interactive resources to help consumers and other stakeholders understand utility bill trends in their states and how candidates and elected officials are addressing energy affordability.

Utility Bills on the Ballot tracks how gubernatorial and public utility commission candidates are talking about energy affordability ahead of the November 2026 elections. As utility costs continue to rise across the country, the issue has become a key talking point in the 36 states electing governors and the nine states electing public utility commissioners, regardless of political party.

Utility Bills on the Ballot also documents how incumbent governors have addressed energy affordability while in office.

The State Utility Dashboard puts the basics of utility bills and utility regulation for every state in one place: who regulates utilities, which companies they oversee, how much utility bills have risen, upcoming rate cases, and how much utilities expect to spend.

The tools arrive as consumers grow increasingly concerned about utility costs, which have climbed 40 percent nationwide since 2020 and are expected to keep rising. Utilities requested a record $31 billion in rate increases in 2025, double the total in 2024, and are planning to spend $1.4 trillion on capital expenditures through 2030.

That strain is reflected in public opinion. According to a PowerLines poll conducted by Ipsos, four in five consumers feel powerless over how much they are charged. The poll also found that roughly four in five consumers would support an elected official or candidate who promises to lower their utility bill, while three in four would support one who seeks to change the system by which utility companies are regulated.

You can access these interactive resources at the following links:

PowerLines is a nonpartisan consumer education nonprofit organization that aims to modernize the utility regulatory system for American energy consumers to lower utility bills and grow the economy.

Media inquiries: press@powerlines.org