If you noticed your utility bill has gone up this summer, you're not alone. On average, electricity costs are 5.5% higher today than they were a year ago, according to the latest federal data, and natural gas is up 13.8%.

Nearly 60 utility companies are set to increase electricity rates this year by more than $38 billion, affecting more than 57 million Americans.

Bill increases could be significant (up to 24%) due to the effects of the PJM capacity auction for the 2025/26 delivery year.

The auction was crazy, in part due to Increased demand on the energy grid, partly driven by the expansion of data centers and other energy-intensive technologies, requires more capacity. The focus on fossil fuels and abandonment of wind farms and solar has made it more $$$.

Welcome to the trump admin.

time to go solar

Is there any other option than to keep using Pepco? in NW DC.

Same OP, same. We are in Potomac and our most recent bill was considerably more despite having been out of town for a week.

Same here - DC. Double the amount from same time/usage last year!!

Anonymous wrote:Our recent bill used almost identical KWH compared to the same period in 2024, and the 2025 bill was exactly 50% higher. We are in NW DC.

Same. The company was granted permission to increase rates substantially. That’s why.

I actually don’t really understand all that but here’s something that explains it

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/maryland-bge-pepco-electricity-bill-pjm-capacity-auction-opc-ratepayer/724319/

Our recent bill used almost identical KWH compared to the same period in 2024, and the 2025 bill was exactly 50% higher. We are in NW DC.

Anonymous wrote:SFH in MD. A/C kept at 77 except for 2hrs at a time set to 75.

Last month and last year billed $250 for Aug/Sept.

Just got a bill for $410. Did rates go way up???

Check your bill for Killowatt-Hours used first. You'll see if your own usage increased vs Pepco raising the rate for each KWH.

Pepco sent a notice that they were raising rates starting in July 2025…they said the average bill would increase 8%.

It was a hotter July/August (until the last week of August) this year vs last.

Mine was very high this past month, too. I was surprised, but figured it was quite hot. And I have an EV so a monthly bill can vary depending on how often I charge. Now you make me wonder if something else is going on…

I don’t remember signing up for this, but Pepco sends me emails every week about how much energy we used that week, and what our projected bill is. It includes bar charts day by day, so we can see, oh yeah, we did 3 loads on laundry on Saturday, that’s why the bar is so high that day.

250 seems low. mine was 370 last month even though i kept 78. SFH/2700 sqft in moco.

Bank messed up autopay last month.

SFH in MD. A/C kept at 77 except for 2hrs at a time set to 75.

Last month and last year billed $250 for Aug/Sept.

Just got a bill for $410. Did rates go way up???