Overview
- The Century Foundation reports past-due utility balances rose 9.7% year over year to $789 between April–June 2024 and April–June 2025, alongside a 12% jump in monthly energy bills.
- The analysis, using University of California Consumer Credit Panel data, estimates nearly 6 million households have utility debts severe enough to be sent to collections.
- During President Trump's first six months in office, households with severely overdue utility bills increased by 3.8%, according to the same dataset.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says electricity prices are a state issue, while the report argues federal actions that impede renewable energy are adding to costs.
- Rising power demand from AI data centers features in the backdrop, even as broader indicators show mixed consumer strain with higher 90-day loan delinquencies and Bank of America data signaling overall financial health remains sound.