Overview
- Based on a March 16–22 Pew survey of 3,524 adults, three-quarters say their home energy costs have risen in recent years.
- Among those reporting increases, 64% call utility companies’ push for higher profits a major reason for their higher bills.
- Many also point to system-level factors, with 43% citing energy-hungry data centers and 40% citing the cost of grid upgrades as major drivers.
- Government data show broad price climbs since 2021, with residential electricity up 27% and natural gas up 26% through 2025, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
- Regional gaps are sharp, as 56% of Northeasterners say their costs rose a lot and several states in that region ranked among those with the largest electricity increases, while Republicans and Democrats differ on the roles of regulation and extreme weather.