US Power Prices Climb 61% Faster Than Inflation

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Consumer prices climbed last month by the most in three years, but prices for electricity surged even more, highlighting an intensifying battle between utilities, consumers and power grids. Electricity prices jumped 6.1% last month compared to a year earlier, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data published on Tuesday.

Posted by qcp at 02:31 PM | 35 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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All this winning is becoming toxic.

#1 | Posted by fresno500 at 2026-05-12 05:53 PM | Reply

Trump doesn't have to explain this, do something about it, or even apologize for it.

In fact, he's done none of these things and never will.

He's going to skip to what he considers the chase, attempt some form of coup and, if successful, outlaw statements of fact that shows how bad he effs up.

#2 | Posted by Zed at 2026-05-12 06:58 PM | Reply

The nefarious Trumpf junta and the oligarchs pushed the expenses to power their mega-AI data centers down to the masses.

#3 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-05-12 10:29 PM | Reply

Well yeah?

You peons should be thankful you're subsidizing the billionaires utility bills.

How will they afford their next mega yacht if they have to pay for what they take?

Ungrateful serfs.

#4 | Posted by Nixon at 2026-05-13 06:53 AM | Reply

This massive grifting will never end until we bring out the guillotines and gallows.

#5 | Posted by Wildman62 at 2026-05-13 02:47 PM | Reply

Trump and republicans turned America into a shithole nation.

MAGA?

#6 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-05-13 03:19 PM | Reply

Does anyone think utility prices come down again once they've gone up. It almost never happens.

#7 | Posted by Whatsleft at 2026-05-13 03:33 PM | Reply

Not without a government that represents the people.

#8 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-05-13 03:39 PM | Reply

Good news from Okiehomie: the state has approx. 12,000Mw of generating capability in the form of wind power, and the ability to develop another 9,000Nw. The state already generates enough to power the entire state, and collectively its wind turbines generate enough power to run the city of Chicago.

This is just another situation where Der Dotard's administration and personal proclivities are pointed in the direction opposite of what this country needs and what it can do to better the lives of Americans. Removing subsidies for EV's, getting in the way of the development of alternative power generation and consciously raising electric prices for consumers is no way to make America greater. Let's just hope that in the short term the MAGA crowd takes the brunt of energy cost increases, because that's what they voted for...

#9 | Posted by catdog at 2026-05-13 03:41 PM | Reply

Thank the data centers.

They (the people) should be grateful they even get power.

49,000 Lake Tahoe residents have a year to find a new sources as their power is being shifted to data centers.

fortune.com

#10 | Posted by bat4255 at 2026-05-13 04:00 PM | Reply

Gas prices suck right now. A few weeks ago I picked up a daily driver that requires premium unleaded. Ugh!

#11 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-05-14 12:50 AM | Reply

... Consumer prices climbed last month by the most in three years, but prices for electricity surged even more, highlighting an intensifying battle between utilities, consumers and power grids. ...

A huge issue for the power grids is how to handle the extreme power load that AI data cetners are presenting and will be presenting.

Biggest US Grid May Be Too Large to Function, Regulator Says
www.bloomberg.com

... The chairman of the top US energy regulator has put America's biggest power grid on notice, warning that its operator may be too big to function adequately amid the AI data center boom.

Laura Swett, who oversees the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, said Tuesday she fears that PJM Interconnection LLC's struggle to address the voracious power needs from data centers threatens the country's artificial intelligence ambitions. ...

#12 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-05-14 01:03 AM | Reply

Gas prices suck right now. A few weeks ago I picked up a daily driver that requires premium unleaded. Ugh!

Posted by BellRinger at 2026-05-14 12:50 AM | Reply

You voted for this. Stop crying.

#13 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2026-05-14 01:16 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 3

!@13 ... Stop crying. ...

Surely you jest.

All MAGA seems to know how to do is whine, cry and play the victim.

#14 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-05-14 01:31 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

Gas prices suck right now. A few weeks ago I picked up a daily driver that requires premium unleaded. Ugh!

#11 | Posted by BellRinger

Maybe you should have thought harder about voting for the orange s*&^bag, eh?

#15 | Posted by jpw at 2026-05-14 01:46 AM | Reply

Gas prices suck right now. A few weeks ago I picked up a daily driver that requires premium unleaded. Ugh!

#11 | Posted by BellRinger

You previously told us you drive a Tesla Model S or something ...

Gas prices shouldn't affect you, right?

#16 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2026-05-14 02:09 AM | Reply

#16

Jeff caught lying? Again?

via GIPHY

#17 | Posted by Nixon at 2026-05-14 10:02 AM | Reply | Funny: 2

" You previously told us you drive a Tesla Model S or something ...

Gas prices shouldn't affect you, right?

#16 | POSTED BY AMERICANUNITY AT 2026-05-14 02:09 AM | FLAG: "

Not me. I've never owned an EV. I'm just lamenting the timing of my purchase. I haven't seen prices this high since Biden's term when inflation skyrocketed. But that lasted a bit less than a year if memory serves. Hopefully, prices will go back down sooner rather than later.

#18 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-05-14 10:52 AM | Reply

Hopefully, prices will go back down sooner rather than later.
#18 | Posted by BellRinger

Why would you hope for that?
If that happens, it means Iran won.

#19 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-05-14 10:54 AM | Reply

You bought a premium gas car months into a war with Iran with no victory condition and no off-ramo in sight.

Why would Obama do this to us?

#20 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-05-14 10:58 AM | Reply

Stop calling them data centers. They're surveillance centers.

#21 | Posted by lee_the_agent at 2026-05-14 11:24 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 3

" I haven't seen prices this high since Biden's term when inflation skyrocketed."

I believe you mean "since COVID when inflation skyrocketed." and if your boy had done more to prevent the spread there would have been fewer deaths and in all likelihood a reduced affect on inflation.

#22 | Posted by justagirl_idaho at 2026-05-14 11:25 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

#22. Relax. I wasn't criticizing Biden, just noting when it happened.

#23 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-05-14 11:45 AM | Reply | Funny: 2

"I wasn't criticizing Biden"

Riiiiiight.

You also weren't admitting inflation would've been WORSE under Trump.

It's widely accepted the third stimulus was unneeded, and in large part the driver of the inflation.

Trump wanted the third stimulus to be 42% higher. Inflation would have been worse under Trump.

Go ahead ... You can say it.

#24 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-05-14 11:51 AM | Reply

#23 | Posted by BellRinger

There is plenty to criticize, just be real about it. You cover for Trump every chance you get.

#25 | Posted by justagirl_idaho at 2026-05-14 12:07 PM | Reply

" You cover for Trump every chance you get.

#25 | POSTED BY JUSTAGIRL_IDAHO AT 2026-05-14 12:07 PM | FLAG: "

Really? What has been my take on his tariffs, both the unilateral way in which they were implemented and their effect on the economy?

#26 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-05-14 12:15 PM | Reply

#26 | Posted by BellRinger

I said "every chance you get", you have no choice but to acknowledge the things you cant blame on Biden. I wont debate you, you and everyone else here knows your posting history. If you can point at Biden or Obama instead of Trump you do it every single time.

#27 | Posted by justagirl_idaho at 2026-05-14 12:39 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

So I cover for him every chance I get until I don't. Got it!

#28 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-05-14 12:44 PM | Reply

Mr. constitutional scholar also ignores trumps obvious lawfare.

#29 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2026-05-14 12:45 PM | Reply

So I cover for him every chance I get until I don't. Got it!

#28 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-05-14 12:44 PM | Reply | Flag:

Dude, you voted for trump in 2024 then lied about it for three months. No one here believes anything you post.

#30 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2026-05-14 12:46 PM | Reply

So I cover for him every chance I get until I cant. Posted by BellRinger

Fixed it for you ^_^ Have a nice day!

#31 | Posted by justagirl_idaho at 2026-05-14 12:47 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

As far as I am concerned Dingaling joined the ranks of the "Unforgiven" years ago.

#32 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-05-14 12:53 PM | Reply

Stop calling them data centers. They're surveillance centers.

#21 | Posted by lee_the_agent at 2026-05-14 11:24 AM | Reply | Flag

That is EXACTLY what they are. Our personal information.

#33 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2026-05-14 12:55 PM | Reply

#31. Well played.

#34 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-05-14 12:56 PM | Reply

What has been my take on his tariffs, both the unilateral way in which they were implemented and their effect on the economy?
#26 | Posted by BellRinger

Imagine someone buying a car that takes premium fuel during Trump's oil war that has raseid gas prices 50% this year.

What would you say that person's take is?

They don't have a take. Their take is ignoring the war that Trump started.

#35 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-05-14 01:21 PM | Reply