"Soaring electric and utility bills nationwide are the new political bellwether for consumers heading into a pivotal 2026 midterm election cycle for the first time in recent history, replacing the typical hot-button items of fuel prices and grocery costs-most notably for eggs last year. While costly grid and severe weather upgrades have accounted for much of the price hikes of late, utility bills are projected to continue spiking for years to come because of the AI-driven data center boom and surging natural gas exports driving demand for new power generation and more fossil fuels."
""The pace at which utility bills have risen is really quite staggering," Hua said. "People really feel powerless because they feel like they have no choice but to pay. We're seeing a breaking point where people are so frustrated and confused as to why their bills are going up that they feel they have no choice but to make their voices heard.""
Electricity and natural gas bills have surged and emerged as the leading inflation pressures in 2025, exceeding food and grocery costs. Residential electricity prices rose almost 30% since 2021, with electricity costs up more than 6% in 2025 through August and piped natural gas jumping close to 13%, per the U.S. Department of Energy. Costly grid upgrades and severe weather have driven recent increases, while the AI-driven data center boom and rising natural gas exports are expected to sustain long-term upward pressure. Rising utility bills have already influenced recent elections and are shaping political priorities for 2026.
Read at Fortune
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