Summary
Many people in the U.S. are having trouble paying their utility bills, which are the bills for services like electricity and heating. The amount of money owed on these bills went up by nearly 10% between spring 2024 and spring 2025. This situation poses challenges for President Trump, who is focused on economic growth and is addressing related concerns in public speeches.
Key Facts
- Past due utility bills increased by 9.7% annually between April-June 2024 and 2025.
- Monthly energy bills rose by 12% during the same period.
- Nearly 6 million households face severe utility debt that may soon be reported to collection agencies.
- President Trump is facing political pressure due to rising living costs.
- AI data centers, which use a lot of electricity, could further increase utility bills.
- The Trump administration argues that utility prices are state-level issues, not a federal responsibility.
- Gasoline accounts for 3% of the consumer price index, slightly less than electricity and natural gas.
- The Utility debt issue overlaps with President Trump's push for more affordable living expenses.
