Millions of Americans face higher utility bills as dozens of rate hikes take effect
CBSN
Tens of millions of Americans are facing higher utility bills after regulators approved dozens of rate hikes last year. Edited by Aimee Picchi In:
Tens of millions of Americans are facing higher utility bills after regulators approved dozens of rate hikes last year.
Regulators green-lit 43 rate hikes across the country in 2025, totaling $11.6 billion in increases, according to an analysis by Powerlines. The nonprofit, which is focused on lowering utility costs, said the vast majority of hikes have already gone into effect, while eight are slated to go live in the coming months.
All told, 56 million Americans will see higher utility bills, according to Powerlines, adding fresh financial pressure on consumers at a time when energy costs are already a major headache. Utilities are hiking their rates to pay for repairing and replacing ailing infrastructure, costs linked to extreme weather events, volatile fuel prices and the increase in electricity demand, driven largely by data centers.
Consumers absorb the cost of rate hikes, as well as utilities' operational and capital infrastructure costs, in their monthly utility bills, according to Powerlines.
"We're calling this the new politics of electricity, where electricity is the new eggs," said Charles Hua, the executive director of Powerlines, during a media briefing last Wednesday, referring to the soaring price of eggs in 2024 and 2025 that became a focal point of consumer frustration over grocery costs.
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