Americans to be hit with record-high electricity bills this summer

Independent -   Americans are facing record-high costs to cool their homes this summer as electricity prices climb and temperatures soar.

The average U.S. household will likely spend about $792 on electricity between June and September, up 10.5 percent from the same period last year, when it cost $717, according to new analysis from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association.

Since 2020, the average summer cooling costs have increased nearly 40 percent due to rising electricity prices and increasingly hot temperatures. Even adjusting for inflation, cooling costs are projected to be about 7 percent higher than they were six years ago.

American households will likely see little relief this summer. Forecasters are predicting record-smashing heat for 2026, meaning more electricity will be used to maintain comfortable and safe indoor conditions.