Utility costs have been rising in recent years. While prices may vary by state, these costs have continued to trend upward nationwide. As a result, customers feel strain on their budgets.
Current Utility Cost Trends Affect Customers Nationwide
According to the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC)’s latest quarterly report, 50 States of Energy Affordability, utility costs continue to rise, affecting customers across the United States. The report found that residential electricity customers nationwide saw price increases of 7.3% on average since last year. Customers in California and the Northeast have seen the highest increases, while the Midwest and West saw lower increases.
As of April 2026, average prices for residential electricity are the highest in California, Illinois, Michigan, Maryland, New York, the Northeast, Alaska, and Hawaii. Their rates are over 20 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh).
Wisconsin, Ohio, and Pennsylvania saw prices at 18 to 20 cents per kWh, while ten states and Washington, D.C. saw slightly lower prices (16 to 18 cents per kWh), mainly in parts of the Southeast, South, and Midwest. Fifteen states had lower rates of 14 to 16 cents per kWh, mostly in Middle America and the West, while the lowest prices (less than 14 cents per kWh) were seen in seven states in the West.
How Rising Utility Costs Lead to Customer Cost Burdens
The cumulative utility cost increases also lead to customers becoming cost burdened, as detailed in the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC)’s report. A household with a high energy cost burden is considered to be one that spends 6% or more of its budget on fuel and electricity combined. A household with a severe energy cost burden spends more than 10%.
The report notes that energy insecurity affected 27% of households in 2023 and that approximately 17.8% of the average low-income household’s budget is spent on energy and fuel. This is three times more than the national average.
How Does CBE Support Utility Clients and Their Customers?
With current rising utility costs nationwide making it difficult for customers to pay bills, it can be easy for customers’ finances to get off track. CBE has served utility clients and their customers for over two decades.
Our dedicated utility collections associates serve customers with empathy and efficiency, offering customers the ability to pay their bill right away or through a convenient payment plan that fits their needs. In addition, CBE also offers a smart IVR phone payment system and an online payment portal. These both operate 24/7 to take payments any time that fits customers’ schedules.