ICC: Pain of soaring gas prices compounded by electricity rate increases across states

A recent congressional report released by Democrats on the Joint Economic Committee revealed that electricity rates "increased significantly" in nearly every U.S. state in 2025. American households paid an average of $110, or 6.4%, more for electricity compared to 2024. Twelve states experienced at least a 10% jump, with the District of Columbia topping the list at a 23.5% increase. New Jersey, Indiana, Illinois, and Pennsylvania were among the states with the highest spikes. Conversely, Nevada, California, Hawaii, and Arizona saw rates drop. Democrats criticized President Donald Trump, citing his unfulfilled campaign promise to halve electricity costs. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), the committee's ranking member, stated that the report indicates "sky-high costs are continuing to rise." The report draws electricity bill data from the federal Energy Information Administration, which also notes that natural gas generates the majority of U.S. electricity. Amid these findings, President Trump recently met with tech CEOs in the Oval Office to sign a "ratepayer protection pledge." According to Trump, this pledge commits "Big Tech companies" to fully cover the increased electricity production costs associated with AI data centers, aiming to prevent price hikes for American communities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a 4.8% increase in electricity costs over the past 12 months, according to the consumer price index for February.