New resource gives newly elected and returning lawmakers a roadmap to tackle rising utility bills ahead of 2027 state legislative sessions.
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, PowerLines released Lowering Utility Bills and Growing the Economy: A Playbook for State Legislators, a resource that outlines strategic tactics, policy pathways, and communications strategies for state legislators and their staff to lower utility bills and grow the economy.
“State legislators have a real opportunity to lead on one of the top issues their constituents care about, which is lowering utility bills,” said Charles Hua, PowerLines Founder and Executive Director. “The decisions lawmakers make in 2027 sessions will shape whether their constituents can benefit from a more affordable and reliable grid.”
Candidates from both parties made rising utility bills a central issue in the November 3 elections. Now, new and returning lawmakers will head into 2027 sessions facing constituent pressure to deliver. These lawmakers will shape the budgets of public utilities commissions and consumer advocates offices and, in a majority of states, confirm the commissioners who serve as utility regulators.
The PowerLines index highlights where rate increase requests are rising, identifies the largest utility filings of the quarter, and includes a regional breakdown of electric and gas rate increase requests filed during the third quarter of 2026. It also outlines steps governors can take to tackle rising energy costs, building on PowerLines’ Governors Playbook.
The playbook organizes tools available to legislators into strategic tactics across three areas (policy, personnel, and platform) and presents six pathways that can form the foundation of state legislation:
- Modernizing the utility business model
- Getting more out of the existing grid
- Improving grid planning
- Addressing rising electricity demand from data centers and other large customers
- Providing near-term relief to consumers
- Strengthening utility regulation
In 2025, utilities requested a record $31 billion in rate increases and are planning to spend $1.4 trillion in capital expenditures through 2030. More than three-quarters of Americans want elected officials to exercise stronger utility oversight.
The playbook builds on PowerLines’ Playbook for Governors and pairs with the State Utility Dashboard, which shows who regulates utilities in every state, how much utility bills have risen, and how much utilities expect to spend.
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.