
Winter’s Burden Expands as Energy Bills Soar Across Households
A bitter winter has driven heating and electricity costs higher, leaving about one in six U.S. households behind on utility bills and totaling roughly $23 billion owed to electric and gas utilities. Heating costs are projected to rise about 9.2% this winter, electricity over 10% from a year ago, and the bill increases threaten middle‑class families, prompting calls for federal and state action and fueling political debate as energy affordability becomes a key issue ahead of the 2026 midterms.













