Sunday, July 13, 2025

U.S. Utilities Seeking Big Hikes in Electricity Rates

U.S. power companies have applied for permission to raise electricity prices by billions of dollars, driven by the costs of replacing aging infrastructure and powering data centers for artificial intelligence, according to a new report issued this week by energy affordability advocacy group PowerLines. Utilities across the U.S. have requested or received approval to increase rates for this year's H1 by $29B, more than double the cumulative amount of rate increases requested and approved at this point last year, the PowerLines report said. U.S. customers of National Grid (NYSE:NGG), for example, who are located primarily in New York and Massachusetts, are expected to see their monthly bills increase by up to $50/month as the utility received approval to increase its rates by $708M, according to calculations by the Financial Times.

Posted by gracieamazed at 04:33 PM | 23 COMMENTS | permalink

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"What we're ... seeing is a deer-in-headlights dynamic," PowerLines executive director Charles Hua told FT. "A lot of states don't have a playbook for how they can meet rising demand while balancing affordability and utility bills."

The requested rate increases are also coming as coal and natural gas plants are being retired, with not enough replacement sources being built.

Comments

"A lot of states don't have a playbook for how they can meet rising demand while balancing affordability and utility bills."

States should have thought of that when they opened their legs... I mean, accepted FDRs money to roll out electricity to the countryside.

The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (REA), enacted on May 20, 1936, provided federal loans for the installation of electrical distribution systems to serve isolated rural areas of the United States.
en.m.wikipedia.org

"Only The Weak Will Fail!"
Offer Valid In All Fifty States Through Jan 20, 2029.

#1 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-13 03:31 PM

So...basically these companies put shareholder profit over everything else, including basic maintenance and predictable updates, and we have to pay for it.

We're also having to pay for increased demand because idiots pushing AI won't be forced to pay for the power demands they need to push their garbage.

More privatization of profit and socialization of the losses.

#2 | Posted by jpw at 2025-07-13 03:34 PM

Thanks, Trumpers!

Americans will long remember your contribution to our demise.

#3 | Posted by Corky at 2025-07-13 03:55 PM

I recall someone on here saying that Lewzer's policies were bringing the cost of energy down. Is this part of that? Odd approach.

#4 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-07-13 07:27 PM

Developer Urges Trump Not to Kill $11 Billion Power Line
financialpost.com

... Invenergy, a closely-held power developer, is calling on the Trump Administration to affirm its commitment to a $11 billion power line in the US Midwest after a US Senator from Missouri said he's secured a pledge from federal officials to halt the project.
Article content

The Grain Belt line would carry electricity generated by wind farms and other energy sources in Kansas across Missouri and Illinois to Indiana. The project is capable of delivering four nuclear power plants' worth of electricity and would be the highest capacity and second longest line in US history, according to the company.

"The Grain Belt Express transmission line is a critical energy security project, supported by a broad, multi-state coalition of stakeholders," Invenergy Chief Commercial Officer Jim Shield wrote in a letter Friday to Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright. "It will strengthen grid reliability and resilience while saving US consumers billion of dollars," said the letter obtained by Bloomberg News ...


#5 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-07-14 05:25 AM

LAMP

Ut oh . . a faux pas!

The Grain Belt line is doomed.

No one should EVER tell Trump that ANYTHING will save the U.S consumers billions of dollars.

That's completely antithetical to Trump's future dictatorship agenda.

#6 | Posted by Twinpac at 2025-07-14 05:54 AM

Glad to be alive, but as an old guy, I am also kinda glad I won't be around in twenty or thirty years, when it comes crashing down, amidst human caused global warming that will kill many poor people. We could have done a lot, but as it is, we are now lost to hate and fear and to living in a world where the rich get it all, and live maybe 15 years longer than we fellow humans at the bottom of the economic pyramid.

#7 | Posted by Hughmass at 2025-07-14 07:14 AM

HUGH

That accepted as a foregone conclusion with which I concur . . although I would like to stick around long enough to see Trump implode and the whole world erupt into a giant street party . . . with fireworks and the joyous sound of ringing bells everywhere.

#8 | Posted by Twinpac at 2025-07-14 08:10 AM

And headlines that scream "OH HAPPY DAY"

#9 | Posted by Twinpac at 2025-07-14 08:14 AM

Good thing we are lowering taxes for the wealthy and increasing military and paramilitary spending, right, MAGA?

#10 | Posted by e1g1 at 2025-07-14 09:39 AM

Good thing we are lowering taxes for the wealthy and increasing military and paramilitary spending, right, MAGA?

#10 | Posted by e1g1 at 2025-07-14 09:39 AM | Reply | Flag:
(Choose)

Actually glad that taxes for everyone won't rise over 20%, which would have happened if the bill wasn't signed. Seems the only ones that are complaining are those that don't pay taxes or those that are simply clueless.

#11 | Posted by fishpaw at 2025-07-14 11:01 AM

Infrastructure that has taken decades to get to where it is at now, all while being ignore by politicians for decades...and yet we STILL have clueless people trying to make it a partisan issue based on who sits in the POTUS seat on whichever day the article comes out.

"Thanks, Trumpers!
Americans will long remember your contribution to our demise."

Want to know the true reason why we have so many problems. This is it. This is the biggest reason by FAR. There are a lot of other reasons but this, voters who can't get over their own bias, is the biggest problem. These kinds of people aren't holding everyone accountable for what they do wrong, they are only holding those with a different opinion than them accountable while ignoring the masses of people who are culpable over decades of time. Especially a topic that comes up almost every...single...year...regardless of which party is in office.

It is mind-boggling how myopic someone's mind has to be to actually allow themselves to be herded by puppet masters. Absolutely mind boggling. And this can't be argued because no intelligent person who isn't having their strings pulled would ever allow themselves to be so easily manipulated.

#12 | Posted by humtake at 2025-07-14 11:31 AM

" glad that taxes for everyone won't rise over 20%, which would have happened if the bill wasn't signed"

Well, that's a bald-faced lie.

What "news" outlet is feeding you this crap?

#13 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-07-14 12:00 PM

For years we were to "conserve energy", now that's all out the window.

Between AI data centers and bitcoin mining, I would guess energy usage has almost doubled.

So the consumer has to again sponsor the well healed.

#14 | Posted by bat4255 at 2025-07-14 07:29 PM

"There are a lot of other reasons but this, voters who can't get over their own bias, is the biggest problem."

Like voters who believe global warming isn't a real problem, but trans athletes is?

#15 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-14 07:32 PM

This has been a big selling point for the solar energy industry here in California. And, best I can tell, it is absolutely valid and accurate. Switch to solar. Save a boatload of money over the coming years.

#16 | Posted by moder8 at 2025-07-14 09:05 PM


This has been a big selling point for the solar energy industry here in California. And, best I can tell, it is absolutely valid and accurate. Switch to solar. Save a boatload of money over the coming years.
#16 | POSTED BY MODER8

I hope so, because CA is paying way more than the rest of the country.

California has some of the highest energy prices in the country.

Renewables make electricity expensive bc they are inherently unreliable & require 100% back-up power
Renewables made California electricity prices rise 7x more than the rest of the US
And renewables made Germany's electricity the most expensive, and Russia-dependent, in Europe
x.com

Renewables aren't in the saving money business.
x.com

#17 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-07-14 09:18 PM


Like voters who believe global warming isn't a real problem, but trans athletes is?
#15 | POSTED BY SNOOFY

You still think Global Warming is the end of the world?

The science has moved to yes its happening, it won't be catastrophic.

The EcoTerrorist like Snoofy, need to stop plastic pollution in SEAsia, stop China building coal fired plants, build/promote nuclear.

But he's a dupe so companies can lobby for subsidies and more government spending on boondoggles, I bet snoofy even promoted Tesla's subsidies before Musk became his current voodoo doll.

#18 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-07-14 09:22 PM

IAMRUNT voted for the demented rapist who wants to make asbestos great again.

#19 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-07-14 09:26 PM

"Renewables aren't in the saving money business."

My solar panels currently save me hundreds of dollars a month. And if electricity costs go up then I will save even more.

YOU really should STOP spreading misinformation ...

#20 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-07-15 11:26 AM

If I were looking at installing solar panels, I would ask myself one simple question:
How did I afford a house to put these things on!?

The other simple question is:
Do you think electricity is going to be cheaper or more expensive from this point forward in your life.

Not to mention: With Trump gutting the Federal government, the ability to generate your own electricity just got a lot more valuable.

#21 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-15 11:35 AM

How did I afford a house to put these things on!?

I joined the Marines. Got VA benefits. Got a good job (a career) using the experience obtained from the military. Saved my money. Paid off my bills. Built my credit.

Finally qualified for a home loan. Barely. But I grabbed the bottom rung of the ladder and started pulling myself up.

Bought my first home far from the city and my job and commuted for years.

Finally was able to leverage that home into buying another home closer to my job. After many many years of sacrifice and struggle and stress on my family I own my own home in California.

When I had solar panels installed I increased the value of my home by more than the cost of the panels. And now I also now save money each month in my electric bill.

After doing the math I literally could not say no to installing solar panels.


#22 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-07-15 11:47 AM

The only reason I would steer clear of solar panels is it's a little harder to sell your house when your roof is leased to Tesla or whoever.

It's still doable but some buyers will rabbit at the first inconvenience.

#23 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-15 11:50 AM

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