Summer electric bills sizzle as the cost of cooling climbs

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NPR

May 23, 2026 6:00 AM ET


Temperatures are climbing, and so is the price of electricity. That's a one-two punch that could result in sharply higher utility bills this summer.

"Climate scientists think this could be the hottest summer on record or at least close to it," says Mark Wolfe, who heads the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA).

"So families need to use more of an increasingly expensive product to stay cool this summer. And that's going to be tough."

NEADA is projecting that electricity bills will be 8.5% higher this summer than last, on average, with residents in some Southern states seeing even bigger increases.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2026/05/23/nx-s1-5823767/summer-heat-electric-bills-cost

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National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) REPORT - Summer Cooling Costs Expected to Increase by 8.5%

[dem4decades]

1. We had old dogs last summer so we kept the house cool, no more dogs

Looks like the wife and I will be a might but warmer in the house this summer. We'll keep it running just to get the humidity out.

[applegrove]

2. From the article:

"The combination of [higher-priced] natural gas, rebuilding the grid, data centers are all pushing up the price of electricity," Wolfe says.

[cstanleytech]

3. Ours went from 260 per month with the plan we have with GeorgiaPower to 333 now.