Third-quarter filings could affect the future bills of 45.5 million utility customers nationwide.
As colder months approach and household energy costs remain a growing concern, PowerLines’ latest quarterly index shows utilities have requested $23.1 billion in electric and gas rate increases during the first three quarters of 2026. Utility Bills Are Rising: Q3 2026 Update finds $4.5 billion in rate increase requests filed during the third quarter of this year alone, making it the highest third quarter on record.
“This quarter’s rate increase requests reflect an ongoing rise in utility costs,” said Charles Hua, Founder and Executive Director of PowerLines. “As rate increase requests continue to climb across the country, the question is how elected officials will respond in this crucial moment.”
The filings in Q3 alone could affect future bills for 45.5 million U.S. utility consumers.
The PowerLines index highlights where rate increase requests are rising, identifies the largest utility filings of the quarter, and includes a regional breakdown of electric and gas rate increase requests filed during the third quarter of 2026. It also outlines steps governors can take to tackle rising energy costs, building on PowerLines’ Governors Playbook.
The full index, Utility Bills Are Rising: Q3 2026 Update, is available here.
PowerLines is a nonpartisan consumer education nonprofit organization that aims to modernize the utility regulatory system for American energy consumers to lower utility bills and grow the economy.