Summer electric bills may hit $800 in Ohio, report says
Ohio's average residential electricity bills are projected to increase by 17% this summer, potentially reaching $800, driven by record energy demand from data centers and manufacturing. A report by Third Way criticizes the Trump administration's policies for hindering clean energy deployment and increasing costs, while Ohio has also seen past issues with utility subsidies and illegal rate increases. This situation highlights a growing financial burden for Ohioans struggling with utility payments.
Ohioans face a projected 17% increase in their average summer electricity bills, potentially reaching $800, largely due to record energy demand from growing data centers, manufacturing, and electrification. This follows a significant spike last year and places a further burden on households, with one in six Americans already behind on utility payments.
A report by the Washington, D.C.-based think tank Third Way, using data from Heatmap News and MIT's Electricity Price Hub, attributes the rising costs to insufficient new energy generation to meet demand. Francesca Hsie, deputy director of electricity for Third Way, specifically criticized the Trump administration for "attacking clean energy generation" and supporting aging coal plants, which she argues exacerbates high bills. The report also highlights past issues in Ohio, including hundreds of millions in subsidies from a bribery and money-laundering conspiracy, and over $1 billion in utility rate increases deemed illegal by the Ohio Supreme Court. Additionally, former Gov. John Kasich approved 40-year tax breaks worth billions for companies like Google, Amazon, and Meta to build data centers, contributing to the demand.