(Image credit: Getty Images)
If your eyebrows furrow when your energy bill arrives, you’re not alone. The average household energy bill jumped by 5.5% from last year, with some areas seeing double-digit spikes.
Why are prices rising so much? There are many reasons. The arms race surrounding the development of generative AI projects is expected to increase the production of energy-consuming data centers by 50% by 2027. That number could grow to 165% by 2030, according to Goldman Sachs.
Furthermore, we’re encountering increased fuel costs, and energy companies are requesting rate hikes to maintain their aging infrastructure. Combined, it’s a recipe that will continue to drive electric prices higher. Here’s a look at the areas hardest hit by the spikes and ways you can keep your costs in line without sacrificing comfort.
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Which areas had the highest electricity bill increases?
Using monthly EIA data from January 2024 to December 2025, the Joint Economic Committee Minority identified where electric bills are rising fastest. Here’s a look at the hardest-hit states:
Swipe to scroll horizontallyAreas with the highest electric bill surges
State/area
2024 electricity averages per household
2025 projected electric costs per household
Difference in annual spending
% difference in annual spending
District of Columbia
$1,360
$1,660
$300
22.10%
Indiana
$1,600
$1,860
$260
16.30%
Illinois
$1,320
$1,520
$200
15.20%
Tennessee
$1,720
$1,970
$250
14.50%
New Jersey
$1,540
$1,750
$210
13.60%
Washington
$1,360
$1,540
$180
13.20%
Maine
$1,600
$1,800
$200
12.50%
Massachusetts
$2,010
$2,260
$250
12.40%
Kentucky
$1,610
$1,800
$190
11.80%
New York
$1,670
$1,860
$190
11.40%
When analyzing the states with the most significant electricity bill increases, the data points to several common factors driving costs higher.
Several states on the list, including Massachusetts, Maine, New York, New Jersey and Illinois, rely on older grid infrastructure that requires costly upgrades, and utility providers often pass those costs to consumers.
Some states depend on imported electricity, which exposes households to higher wholesale prices during periods of strong demand. Places like Washington D.C., which imports nearly all of its power, are especially vulnerable to these pricing shifts.
Other states, including Tennessee, Indiana and Kentucky, are experiencing rising demand due to population growth, expanding industry and increasingly extreme weather. Hot summers and cold winters strain local grids and increase household usage, which magnifies the effect of any rate increase.
Overall, the committee found that electric bills rose by 5.8%, with the average household paying an extra $100 per year.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
How can I make my home more energy-efficient?
While there are many factors outside of your control when it comes to your energy rate, there are a few things you can do to ensure you’re maximizing efficiency without sacrificing comfort. Before you make any adjustments, consider this.
Do you live in an area with deregulated electricity? If so, you have your choice of electric suppliers, where you can set up and lock in a fixed-rate plan for years. Doing this helps you keep costs down by preventing rate hikes from happening.
Meanwhile, if you’re on a variable rate plan, your costs can change monthly, depending on pricing, energy load demand and other factors, which makes you more at the mercy of your provider.
Along with this, the following are some simple tips to help you lower your home’s energy usage.
Give your home an energy check-up
A home energy audit is like a physical for your home. An energy auditor will inspect your home and suggest improvements to maximize its efficiency, such as sealing drafty doors, adding insulation or lowering the temperature on your water heater.
A home energy audit will run you at least several hundred dollars, depending on the size of your home, but implementing the changes can save you up to 30% on your energy bills, making it well worth the investment. Energy audits can also qualify for the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit; however, you must act fast, as it expires on December 31.
Where can you find home energy auditors? You can check with your local utility or contact your state’s weatherization administrator. Once you find one, ask for references and check their reviews if available.
Improve your home’s energy IQ
When we bought our home, it hadn’t been updated much since the Golden Girls made their TV debut. As such, we replaced an outdated thermostat with a smart one. Doing that alone made a huge difference, as our bill lowered by $15 monthly.
Below are a few options you can find on Amazon:
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(Image credit: Amazon )(Image credit: Amazon )(Image credit: Walmart)
What makes it such a convenient tool is that you can set the temperature more efficiently when you’re not home, such as eight degrees cooler in the winter, so it doesn’t tax your HVAC as much.
One thing to keep in mind with smart thermostats is that not all play well with internet routers.
You can check compatibility with manufacturers like Ecobee and Google Nest before making a purchase.
Bench underperforming appliances
Appliances wear with age and lose their peak effectiveness. As such, if you have a water heater that’s 20 years old, it won’t offer the same efficiency as a new model.
Replacing your old water heater with a tankless one is smart because tankless water heaters only heat water as needed. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that tankless water heaters can save you up to 34% on your energy costs.
You can double those savings with the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit. The credit provides homeowners with a 30% tax credit on project costs up to a $600 benefit. Again, you’ll want to act fast, as the credit expires on December 31.
The takeaway on reducing your energy costs
Energy prices are rising nationwide, with some locales experiencing double-digit spikes. With increased demand in data centers, coupled with utilities requesting price hikes to maintain their infrastructure, these spikes are the new normal moving forward.
That’s why it’s imperative to be proactive in improving your home’s energy efficiency. By doing some of these suggestions, you can avoid some of the price spikes and save hundreds of dollars per year, without sacrificing comfort.
