Gerry Clauss, a former electrician from Hainesport, N.J., never worried about paying for electricity until his summer power bill reached $422 a month. In response, he turned off the air conditioner, freeze-dried bulk food instead of using his freezer, and started shutting off lights more frequently. Clauss plans to vote for Republican Jack Ciattarelli in the state’s gubernatorial election, partly motivated by rising energy costs and Ciattarelli’s proposal to leave a regional carbon-reduction program, though Clauss still supports clean energy. Rising electricity bills are overlapping with higher food prices and persistent inflation, frustrating Americans nationwide. Retail power prices in New Jersey rose 19% in August year-over-year, ahead of a 6% nationwide increase, driven by factors such as growing demand from data centers, slow addition of new power generators, retiring plants, and costly grid upgrades. Unlike food, electricity has few substitutes, making rising costs difficult to avoid.

The National Energy Assistance Directors Association projects that unpaid electricity bills could lead to 4 million shut-offs nationwide this year, up from 3.5 million last year. Eastern states, particularly those under PJM Interconnection, are seeing some of the largest increases due to rising wholesale prices. The Bank of America Institute warned that peak electricity demand pressures will disproportionately impact lower-income households. Regional variations exist due to weather, fuel costs, infrastructure upgrades, and state regulations. In Maine, retail prices climbed 23% year-over-year to fund grid repairs, while Central Maine Power seeks approval for additional rate hikes to prevent future outages. Minnesota utilities are pursuing increases to improve reliability and prepare for rising demand.

Rising energy costs have become a pivotal issue in New Jersey’s gubernatorial race, with Democrat Mikie Sherrill calling for a state of emergency to freeze rates while pursuing long-term cost reductions. Businesses are also affected: coffee shop owner Steve McFadden raised prices due to higher electricity costs, and commercial tenants increasingly seek fixed energy contracts. Low-income residents and nonprofits, such as HABcore, are feeling the strain, with subsidized housing units seeing dramatic electricity increases. For some, like accountant David Healey, rising bills—$550 for a three-bedroom house—have forced costly adaptations, including installing solar panels, highlighting th