More Consumers Falling Behind on Their Utility Bills

[applegrove]

More Consumers Falling Behind on Their Utility Bills

November 17, 2025 at 7:24 am EST By Taegan Goddard 11 Comments

https://politicalwire.com/2025/11/17/more-consumers-falling-behind-on-their-utility-bills/

“More people are falling behind on paying their bills to keep on the lights and heat their homes, according to a new analysis of consumer data — a warning sign for the U.S. economy and another political headache for President Donald Trump,” the AP reports.

[marble falls]

1. We only need a spark to start the fire.

[BlueWavePsych]

15. This could help ... join the Mass Blackout!

https://www.themassblackout.com/

[marble falls]

16. Hells Bells, we're retired. ...

... The TACO economy gives me no work when I could use a few days a week. There are already no projects, no spending, no money, no events.

[BOSSHOG]

2. This gives trump a head ache?

Because it can’t be explained away by lying Leavitt? Because he’s tired of working people bitching while he’s dining with the corrupt?

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Utilities were supposed to be regulated, but feeding AI is more important now

Regulated means controlled. Only allowed to vary slowly, with permission of rate boards, utility commissions. OK, they were all in the hip pocket of utilities, but there was some restriction on rate hikes.

Now, consumers are subsidizing AI growth with their electric bills. AI growth for AI companies and investors, some of the deepest pockets on the planet. Little peoples screwed again.

[marble falls]

17. When the size of this monster gets out, and people realize they are subsidizing this ecological nightmare, ...

... AI will finally be bridled.

[wolfie001]

4. Mr. Global on YouTube gives critically important insights on the current state of energy in the US

He owns an oil company and hates tRUMP. That's some good cred in my book.

[dalton99a]

5. And car payments

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/car-repossessions-expected-hit-highest-150000266.html
Car repossessions expected to hit their highest rate since the 2009 recession. Is it a sign the economy is in trouble?

[NotHardly]

6. LOL... yah think?

[marble falls]

18. I've never seen so many new cars on the road. I knew something's going wrong.

[leftstreet]

7. Time to nationalize the utility companies

No one, absolutely NO ONE, should be making profits off our basic needs

[Greg_In_SF]

12. With around

3000 utility companies in the US, how would that be accomplished?

[leftstreet]

13. It starts with acquiring their assets

and liabilities, etc. Bonds can be offered, whatever. Not my problem, I'm not an economist or elected official

Government "regulation" LOL of utility companies has clearly failed. The for-profiteers have had their chance.

[Greg_In_SF]

14. It would be interesting to watch

but the government acquisition of thousands of private companies will never happen.

[leftstreet]

19. You know they purchase from wholesalers

There aren't 3000 local companies able to operate without purchasing power, accessing grids, etcc

[marble falls]

20. How long did it take for the War Department to put US industry on a war footing in '42? Months. ...

Last edited Mon Nov 17, 2025, 04:37 PM - Edit history (1)

... It's not as if anything operationally changes. The equipment stays, employees stay employed, The Fed pays the bills and finances it out the fucking taxes the wealthy will start paying. Congress comes up with a scheme to reimburse stockholder.

Next wish: tax dividends as freaking income. Billionaires do not need "protection" and while we're add it, they don't need blanket write offs for improvements.

Oh yeah, let's kill the tax write-off on art donations.

Don't get me started, dagnabbit.

[dumbcat]

21. Hmmmm, should all farms, ranches and agriculture assets also be nationalized?

They are definitely making profits off our basic needs. Like, food.

[leftstreet]

22. Well I'd say yes. But I'm a commie

[DiverDave]

8. By living in the dark

And wearing sweaters. My bill this month is 37 bucks.

[progree]

9. Past due balances to utility companies jumped 9.7% . . . a 12% jump in monthly energy bills during the same period

From the AP article linked to from the OP's article

https://apnews.com/article/trump-inflation-utility-bills-16cf846b44369b5b9660238be7112a4d

Past due balances to utility companies jumped 9.7% annually to $789 between the April-June periods of 2024 and 2025, said The Century Foundation, a liberal think tank, and the advocacy group Protect Borrowers. The increase has overlapped with a 12% jump in monthly energy bills during the same period.

Consumers usually prioritize their utility bills along with their mortgages and auto debt, said Julie Margetta Morgan, the foundation’s president. The increase in both energy costs and delinquencies may suggest that consumers are falling behind on other bills, too.

Nearly 6 million households have utility debt “so severe” that it will soon be reported to collection agencies, according to the foundation’s analysis, drawn from the University of California Consumer Credit Panel.

During Trump’s first six months in office, there was a 3.8% increase in households with severely overdue utility bills.

. . . The New York Federal Reserve has said delinquency rates of 90 days or more for mortgages, auto loans and student debt have each increased over the past 12 months,

As electric bills rise, evidence mounts that data centers share blame. States feel pressure to act, AP, 8/8/25
https://apnews.com/article/electricity-prices-data-centers-artificial-intelligence-fbf213a915fb574a4f3e5baaa7041c3a

[Greg_In_SF]

10. Chart

[ananda]

11. Geezus... political headache!

People's lives are a political headache!

Every single harm Trump does should be
a political deathbed.

Period.