Utilities have requested about $18.6 billion in electric and gas rate increases during the first half of 2026, according to PowerLines, an advocacy group.
The rate increases are occurring as summer heat pushes electricity demand higher and household energy costs remain a growing concern.
In addition, Powerline’s second quarter report for 2026 finds a record $9.2 billion in rate increase requests filed which surpasses the total in the second quarter of 2025 – the previous second quarter rate increase request record – by 26 percent.
“Summer is when Americans pay attention to what electricity costs because their utility bills are often higher,” Charles Hua, founder and executive director of PowerLines, said in a statement. “The amount of utility rate increase requests in these filings shows the pressure on household energy bills isn’t easing.
Hua said as Americans are in a political cycle where energy affordability is a defining issue, people will be watching these regulatory decisions.
The filings in for the second quarter of 2026 alone could affect future bills for more than 56 million U.S. utility consumers.
The PowerLines index highlights where rate increase requests are accelerating, identifies the largest utility filings of the quarter, and includes a state-by-state breakdown of every major electric and gas rate increase request filed during the second quarter of 2026.
PowerLines urges consumers to find out how their state utilities commission is structured and who serves on it.
It suggests people follow the meetings of the commission and testify when rate increases are proposed.
The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners offers a listing of the commission in each state.
