Homeowners across the country say their utility costs have substantially increased in the last several years, and they are blaming both the utility companies and increasing energy demands of new data centers as the reasons for the rise.
In a new survey, the Pew Research Center is reporting that upwards of 42% of respondents said their monthly utility bills have gone up by a lot, with residents in the Northeast voicing the most complaints and those in the West the least.
The survey of more than 3,500 people showed that 56% of those in the Northeast said their energy bill had significantly increased in the last few years, compared with only 36% in the West who said the same.
But in combining the opinions of respondents in all regions, the Pew survey showed that a large 64% said they thought the reason for their energy bill increases was due to “utility companies wanting to make more money.”
The second largest category, at 43%, said they thought the growing presence of data centers and the energy they require is a primary reason for their increased bills.
Complaints about utility bill increases appeared to be bipartisan with both Democrats and Republicans blaming the utility companies for those increases, although Democrats tended to point to extreme weather events as the main culprit forcing the companies’ hands, while Republicans said they thought it was the fault of government regulations.
In a separate survey, a massive 71% said the cost of their homeowners insurance has been on the upside in recent years, a response that cut across income levels.
Asked why they the thought those costs had increased, 65% agreed with the statement that “insurance companies wanted to make more money.” The costs of repairing and rebuilding homes, along with extreme weather events, were also cited.
The increase in home insurance appeared to impact residents in all regions of the country, with 39% to 44% in the Northeast and Midwest indicating their costs had gone up, and 47% saying the same in the West.
According to an energy affordability advocacy group called PowerLines, utility bills on average have increased by some 40% in the last five years, with power companies last year requesting up to $31 billion in rate increases.
May 12, 2026
By Garry Boulard
Photo courtesy of Pixabay
