If you're a utility customer in the US, you've likely seen your rates go up this year. Residents in at least 41 states and Washington, D.C., are experiencing increased electric and natural gas bills now or will see increases in 2026, according to a new report from the Center for American Progress. Costs are rising largely due to the AI data center development boom and the resulting strain it has placed on the country's aging electric grid. The good news is that, depending on which state you