New Yorkers frustrated by soaring utility bills are not alone — and many increasingly believe utility companies themselves are driving the problem, according to new national research that placed New York among the states hit hardest by rising energy costs.
A new Pew Research Center survey released Wednesday found that 75% of Americans say their home energy costs have increased in recent years. In the Northeast, where New York residents have faced some of the nation’s steepest increases in electricity and natural gas prices, more than half of respondents said those costs have gone up “a lot.”
Among Americans who reported rising energy bills, 64% said utility companies wanting to make more money was a major reason behind the increases.
The findings land as New York utilities continue pressing regulators for billions of dollars in grid modernization spending, infrastructure upgrades and investments tied to electrification and future energy demand.
Pew specifically identified New York as one of the states with some of the largest increases in residential electricity and natural gas prices between 2021 and 2025, citing federal energy data.
The survey also reflects growing public awareness of pressures reshaping the electric grid.
Forty percent of respondents said costs associated with upgrading and expanding the electrical grid are a major reason behind higher bills, while 43% blamed growing power demand from data centers. Both issues have become central topics in New York energy policy discussions as utilities warn of increasing electricity demand tied to artificial intelligence, data centers and building electrification mandates.
The survey found bipartisan agreement on some aspects of the issue.
Republicans and Democrats were similarly likely to blame utility companies and rising energy demand from data centers. But Republicans were more likely to cite government regulations as a major factor, while Democrats were more likely to point to extreme weather events.
Despite rising bills, Americans were far less likely to blame their own energy usage. Just 13% said their increased consumption was a major reason for higher costs.
The findings come as utility affordability has emerged as a growing political issue in New York, where rate increases proposed by major utilities have triggered criticism from lawmakers, consumer advocates and residents already struggling with housing and living costs.
The Pew survey underscores a widening disconnect between utilities arguing that major infrastructure investments are unavoidable and consumers who increasingly see rising monthly bills as driven by corporate profit motives rather than necessity.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.