Hot summer burns through Americans’ wallets in 2025
According to webangah News Agency, cooling costs this summer are set to hit record highs for American families already struggling with inflation.
A new analysis by the National Energy Assistance Directors Association and the Center for Energy Poverty and Climate predicts Americans will pay an average of $784—an all-time high—to cool their homes from June through September.
This marks a 4.2% increase from last year’s period and a 14% jump from 2020, when adjusted for inflation, people paid approximately $688.
Mark Wolfe, CEO of the association who has tracked summer utility bills since 2014, attributes this surge to electricity prices rising faster than inflation and another hot summer ahead.
The report indicates residents in New England and the Midwest will face especially steep increases—projected at 13-18% higher than last year. Only Pacific region households may see relief with an estimated 7% cost decrease after last year’s spike.
While U.S. inflation rates have recently declined, prices remain elevated as household debt grows. The compounding pressures of winter heating and summer cooling costs continue straining American budgets.
The association also estimates last winter’s heating bills spiked nearly 9% during extreme cold spells. “People aren’t getting any breathing room,” warned Wolfe.
An estimated 21 million Americans—roughly one in six—have fallen behind on energy payments.
“Without affordable cooling access,” Wolfe cautioned, “many face risky heat exposure risks.”
