Rising energy and utility prices are driving many households into serious debt, with the typical overdue bill jumping from $597 in 2022 to $789, a 32 percent increase. Nearly one in twenty households, about 14 million people, now have utility debts severe enough that they have been or are about to be sent to collections, often facing additional interest and penalties. In several Atlantic coast states and parts of the Midwest, the average overdue amount exceeds $1,500 and falls especially hard on Black, Asian and subprime borrowers.
These growing burdens are linked to rapid growth in energy‑intensive AI data centers and federal policies from the executive branch that have raised utility bills. This mounting utility debt is putting families at greater risk as they head into colder months.
