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Donald Trump has a promise for anyone wincing at their electric bill.
At an Oct. 3 rally in Vandalia, Ohio, near Dayton, he told the crowd that “Jon Husted introduced the Ratepayer Protection Act to stop data centers from raising electricity costs.” (1)
Then he added: “But if you vote for Jon Husted, I will sign this Ratepayer Protection Act into law immediately within 24 hours.” (1)
The bill is stuck for now. A Senate procedural vote on Sept. 30 went 57-43, short of the 60 votes needed to move forward, Reuters reports. (2) The House had already passed it 417-3, according to Roll Call. (3)
The pain behind it is real. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the electricity index rose 3.8% over the 12 months ending in August. (4)
The Energy Information Administration forecasts the average U.S. residential electricity price will go from 18.2 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2026 to 18.7 cents in 2027. (5)
It also forecasts that electricity demand from the commercial sector, “which includes data centers,” will increase steadily throughout 2027, growing 2.8% year over year. (5)
I’ve been writing about money for more than 35 years, and I’ve learned to read the bill behind the speech. Here’s the catch: according to Roll Call, this one “would not require states to adopt any particular standard.” (3)
Here are 5 things to know, and do, while Washington argues.
1. Even if it passes, relief won’t be quick
Roll Call reports the bill would only start a process for states to consider new rules within one year of becoming law, and finish it within two. (3)
Reuters describes it as requiring state utility regulators to consider whether large electricity users, including data centers, should pay the added cost of the power infrastructure built to serve them. (2)
Both sides are dug in. Sen. Husted said, “This bill is the only path that we can take today that will lower electricity prices.” (3) Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it “toothless.” (3)
Who’s right is a fair fight. But either way, a law that asks states to think about something isn’t going to shrink your January bill.
2. Know what you’re actually paying for
Your bill isn’t just the electricity. EIA says residential prices include other expenses such as transmission and distribution upgrades, plus capacity market auction prices in some regions. (5)
Pull out your last few bills and look at the line items, not just the total. If your utility has asked regulators for a rate increase, look for a notice in your bill inserts or on your state utility commission’s website. Or, simply search the web for your state’s latest requested rate increase.
Knowing what’s coming beats being surprised by it.
3. Find the money somewhere else
Most people can’t haggle with the power company the way they can with some other bills. But if electricity is eating more of a fixed income, the fastest fix is often trimming the bills you can control.
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Quick aside — most internet financial advice comes from people who weren’t alive during the last recession. I’ve been writing about money for more than 35 years. Want rock-solid advice? Sign up for the free Money Talks Newsletter. Takes 10 seconds. No fluff. No spam.
4. Don’t let one breakdown pile on
Higher electric rates are a slow squeeze. A dead furnace or air conditioner in the middle of a cold snap or heat wave is a punch.
Furnaces, water heaters, refrigerators — home systems don’t fail on schedule, and replacing them can run into the thousands. On a fixed income, one bad month can undo a year of careful budgeting.
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5. If the bill is more than you can handle, ask for help
There’s no shame in it. The federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, is “a federally-funded program that helps low-income households with their home energy bills.” (6) The program’s website tells you how and where to apply. (6)
And call your utility before you fall behind, not after. Ask whether it offers a payment plan or budget billing that spreads costs evenly over the year.
My honest take
I don’t care which party fixes this, as long as somebody does. If giant data centers are driving up costs, it’s fair to ask them to pay their share.
But don’t confuse a campaign promise with a lower bill. The bill Trump wants to sign asks states to consider a change. Your budget needs a change now.
So do what you can control: know your bill, cut the leaks, protect yourself from a big repair and ask for help if you need it. That’s a plan that works whoever wins in November.
Sources: 1. Roll Call Factba.se; 2. Reuters (via Insurance Journal); 3. Roll Call; 4. Bureau of Labor Statistics; 5. U.S. Energy Information Administration; 6. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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