Monday, January 12, 2026- Across the United States, soaring electricity prices are pushing many families into deep financial hardship, with some households enduring long stretches without power because they simply can’t afford their bills.
In Greenwood Lake, New York, 44‑year‑old Kristy Hallowell went six months last year without electricity after her energy bill unexpectedly tripled to roughly $1,800 a month while she was already struggling with job loss.
With gas and power shut off, she and her family relied on a generator to heat and light their home, a stopgap that left them vulnerable and in mounting debt. Electricity has since been restored with help from a local charity, but she still carries about $3,000 in utility debt and fears another shut‑off this winter.
Hallowell’s experience reflects a broader crisis: nearly one in 20 U.S. households is at risk of having their utility debt sent to collections as winter approaches and bills rise, according to recent data.
Electricity prices climbed about 6.9% year‑over‑year into late 2025 much faster than overall inflation while heating costs are expected to jump further as cold weather drives up demand. Many families face impossible choices between paying for power and other essentials like food and medicine, leaving low‑ and middle‑income households particularly vulnerable.
Analysts point to multiple factors driving higher energy costs, including rising fuel prices, increasing demand on the grid, and a series of utility rate hikes. The situation is compounded by broader economic pressures that have left millions struggling with costs across many categories of living expenses.
Advocacy groups and policymakers are calling for expanded assistance programs and policies to make energy more affordable, but meaningful relief is likely to take time. For now, families like Hallowell’s remain on the frontline of a deepening affordability crisis.
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