Millions of Americans receive their monthly utility bill and just assume it’s high because it’s been sweltering outside.
That’s only part of the story. Customers are also paying for everything from your utility company’s trade association fees, to lobbying efforts to increase your rates to maybe, even country club memberships, consumer advocates say. In the worst instances, according to legal allegations, you’ve also paid bribes to politicians, they say.
Such items may add up to a few extra dollars per month, which doesn’t seem like much on a $150 bill but that can become a fairly hefty tab, especially as the amount people are behind on their utility bills has soared 8.4% to $17.4 billion since December 2023. That’s according to The National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NAEDA), which guides states to help low-income households with their energy needs. NAEDA predicts shut offs to increase by 300,000 households to 3.5 million by the end of the year.
