ROUND UP: Americans Continue to Face Rate Hikes One Year After Trump and Republicans’ Disastrous Budget Bill
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New report shows that American families have paid $213 more on utility bills thanks to the GOP budget bill
Washington, DC – As we approach the anniversary of the GOP budget bill, the lower costs that Trump and Republicans promised have failed to materialize. Instead, Americans are facing skyrocketing utility bills as energy supply across the country is stalled or canceled. Energy costs spiked by 16% on average from when Trump took office through March.
A new report from Climate Power and the Center for American Progress Action Fund shows that the budget bill has cost the average American family $2,072 to $3,569 in higher gas prices, utility bills, health care premiums, and other essential goods. In recent weeks, customers in seven states have faced rate hikes as extreme, life-threatening heat settles in for more than half the country, making it more expensive for them to stay cool and safe.
Alabama
- The Hartselle Utilities Board of Directors approved gas and electric rate increases for customers. Starting July 1, monthly customer charges for gas were set to increase by $1.50, and electric customer charges were set to increase by the same amount starting October 1.
Florida
- JEA proposed increasing electric rates by 6%, with a typical JEA customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity expected to see their bill rise from $153.92 to $156.33 per month.
Kentucky
- The Frankfort Plant Board approved a 3.9% electric rate increase, projected to cost the average residential customer $7 to $8 more per month.
Missouri
- The Seymour City Board of Aldermen voted to increase electric rates for residential customers by 4% to 11.46 cents per kilowatt-hour, coupled with a monthly service charge increase from $27.49 to $28.59.
- Ameren Missouri sought approval to increase its annual electric service rates by 10%, which would amount to $13 more per month on the average residential electric bill.
Mississippi
- Amplify Cell Technologies indefinitely paused its plans to open a $1.9 billion battery manufacturing facility in Marshall County, Mississippi, attributing the pause to lower expectations on EV demand for commercial vehicles. The facility was expected to create 2,000 jobs paying an average annual salary of $66,000.
Nebraska
- The Broken Bow City Council voted to increase electric rates for residential customers by 4%.
California
- Southern California Gas Co. filed a 2028 rate request with the California Public Utilities Commission that would increase the average residential customer’s gas bill by approximately $5.67 per month, a 7.7% increase.
Minnesota
- The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved Xcel Energy’s proposal to increase electric rates by an additional $127.3 million, or 3.4% for 2026.