Reports
A majority of consumers in the United States are concerned about increasing utility bills, as residential electricity costs have risen by almost 40% since 2021 and residential gas costs have increased by 40% since 2019, significantly outpacing inflation. Today, nearly 80 million Americans are struggling to pay their utility bills, forgoing basic expenses like food, education, and health care to keep their lights on.
Utility Bills Are Rising
An Analysis of How Utility Bills are Impacting American Energy Consumers and Who Determines Them
Unlike other economic forces putting upward pressure on consumer costs, rising utility bills can and must be addressed by existing regulatory structures, namely state PUCs. While the factors driving rising utility bills vary by region, the end result is the same: American energy consumers are stressed out about rising utility bills and concerned about what these trends mean for the broader economy.
Previous Reports
Q1 2025 Report
Q2 2025 Report
Q3 2025 Report
Q4 2025 Report
Q4 2025 One Pager
Majority of Americans Report Rising Utility Bills as Utilities File $9.4 Billion in Rate Increase Requests in Q1 2026
PowerLines has released a new analysis finding utilities filed $9.4 billion in rate increase requests in the first quarter of 2026 that are poised to impact more than 81 million customers across the U.S. Utility Bills Are Rising: Q1 2026, includes a comprehensive analysis of utility rate increase requests filed in the first quarter of 2026 alongside new nationwide polling conducted in partnership with Ipsos.
Three in four concerned their gas, electricity utility bills will increase this year
A new PowerLines poll, conducted by Ipsos, finds that over two-thirds Americans that have an electric or gas utility bill say their bill has increased compared to a year ago. Even more, three in four, are concerned that these bills will increase this year.
The poll also finds that a majority of Americans admit they do not fully understand what drives the costs from their local utilities. Moreover, most disagree that their state government does a good job at protecting their interests when it comes to regulating local electrical or gas utilities and feel costs will continue to increase despite potential action from elected officials.
Utility Spending is Rising: A Review of Utility Capital Expenditure Plans
An Analysis of Utility Five-Year Spending Plans and Earnings Calls
At the end of 2025, investor-owned utilities held earnings calls, detailing $1.4 trillion in planned capital investments through 2030. These capital expenditure plans indicate a 21 percent uptick in planned utility spending over the next five years as compared to capital expenditure plans laid out last year. This proposed capital spending could become a key driver of utility rate increases in the future, depending on the actions states take.
Utility Bills Are Rising: 2025 Review in the News:
