Overview
- EIA forecasts residential electricity prices reaching 17.7 cents per kWh by 2026 after roughly a 36% jump since 2021.
- U.S. power demand grew about 3% in 2024, driven largely by new data centers in ERCOT and PJM, and EPRI projects data centers could consume up to 9% of U.S. generation by decade’s end.
- Democrats won governor races in New Jersey and Virginia on affordability pledges and captured two Georgia Public Service Commission seats for the first time in nearly 20 years.
- Rate pressure is intensifying as utilities sought or secured more than $34 billion in increases through the first three quarters of 2025, and Georgia Power’s typical residential bill now averages about $175 after six hikes in two years.
- PJM customers face additional increases next June from higher wholesale costs intended to spur new power plants for data-center load, prompting Democratic governors in the region to press the grid operator to contain the impact.