Fortnightly Magazine - February 24, 2025

Public Utilities Fortnightly examines the issues surrounding affordability challenges with leaders in the know.

“There’s a temporal challenge, with EVs, data centers, and substation investments. Those decisions to enable serving that load are made 5-to-7 years before load shows up. It’s carrying 5-to-7 years of costs before seeing benefits. In the short term, you’re challenged by the impact on rates.”

“Customers currently qualify for the energy affordability program if household income is below 60% of state median income. This will soon extend to moderate-income households. Customers can demonstrate this to utilities by identifying enrollment in state and federal programs, such as the home energy assistance program or Medicaid.”

Tables report where energy is least and most affordable in the United States. All but two states saw a decrease, and generally saw a substantial decrease, in the average residential share over the last quarter century.