Utilities request $23.1 billion in rate increases across US

Third-quarter filings could affect the future bills of 45.5 million utility customers nationwide.

By RealWV Staff,

As colder months approach and families express concerns about energy costs, PowerLines’ latest quarterly index shows utilities have requested $23.1 billion in electric and gas rate increases during the first three quarters of 2026 across America.

Utility Bills Are Rising: Q3 2026 Update finds $4.5 billion in rate increase requests filed during the third quarter of this year alone, making it the highest third quarter on record. As compared to last year, rate requests have increased have more than doubled. See graphic below for details.

“This quarter’s rate increase requests reflect an ongoing rise in utility costs,” said Charles Hua, Founder and Executive Director of PowerLines. “As rate increase requests continue to climb across the country, the question is how elected officials will respond in this crucial moment.”

PowerLines conducted polling earlier this year which showed that 2 in 3 customers nationwide reported their utility bills increasing this year. Additionally, in that same polling, 4 in 5 Americans say they feel powerless to stop the rate hikes.

The report says that elected officials do have avenues for affecting change. “Elected officials, including governors and state lawmakers, hold significant power over how much consumers ultimately pay on their power bills.”

“In 36 states, the governor has the authority to appoint members of the state’s public utilities commission (PUC) who ultimately decide whether or how much a utility can charge consumers on their electric and gas bills. Another 10 states elect those commissioners directly, while two others appoint them via the state legislature. Two states provide for a mix of Governor and legislative appointments. This gives elected officials enormous leverage over who decides how much individual consumers are paying each month. As PowerLines has detailed in its Playbook for Governors, governors have wide latitude to:

• Engage with regional and federal stakeholders.
• Build a strong working relationship with the PUC.
• Leverage the bully pulpit to speak on behalf of consumers.
• Prioritize PUC and related appointments through a consumer lens.
• Create a utility affordability plan and release a targeted legislative agenda.
• Hit the ground running with well-scoped, consumer-centric executive actions.

PowerLines is a nonpartisan consumer education nonprofit organization that aims to modernize the utility regulatory system for American energy consumers to lower utility bills and grow the economy.