Where Summer Cooling Costs Are Climbing Most

No Region Is Escaping This Summer

While the national average for summer electricity costs is projected to
rise about 10.5 percent in 2026, the experience of individual households
varies considerably by where they live. The National Energy Assistance
Directors Association’s June 2026 report found that cooling cost
increases are expected in every U.S. region - but the size of those
increases, and the total dollar amounts households face, differs
substantially from one part of the country to another.

For readers trying to understand what their own summer bills might look
like, the regional breakdown offers a more direct answer than the
national headline figure.

Where the Increases Are Largest

The South Atlantic region - which runs from Maryland down through
Florida - is projected to see some of the sharpest percentage increases.
According to earlier NEADA projections reported by NewsNation, summer
cooling bills in the South Atlantic are expected to rise about 13.5
percent, reaching approximately 860 dollars for the season - more than
100 dollars above last year’s total.

The West South Central region, covering Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and
Louisiana, is projected to carry the highest average summer electricity
bills in the nation, rising roughly 11.5 percent to approximately 924
dollars for the cooling season. These states combine high baseline
cooling demand - driven by long, intensely hot summers - with
electricity price increases that compound the effect.

The Mountain region, which includes states such as Arizona and Colorado,
is also among the areas facing the largest projected increases. NEADA’s
updated forecast cited by Moneywise ranked the Mountain states as having
the steepest projected percentage hike of any region, with Arizona
households specifically projected to spend approximately 1,060 dollars
over the cooling season - the highest single-state figure in the NEADA
analysis.

Why Some Regions Are Hit Harder

The regional variation reflects a combination of climate and
infrastructure factors. States in the South and Mountain West tend to
have longer and hotter cooling seasons, which increases the volume of
electricity consumption needed to maintain safe indoor temperatures.
These regions also tend to have high concentrations of AI data centers -
Arizona, for example, has more than 160 - which increase demand on
regional power grids and contribute to higher electricity rates over
time.

According to Moneywise’s coverage of NEADA’s updated forecast, grid
improvement costs are also a factor in some Mountain states. Montana and
Colorado, for example, are carrying significant transmission
infrastructure investment that feeds through to residential electricity
rates.

Where Bills Are More Moderate

Not every region faces double-digit increases. The Plains states are
projected to see more modest increases of around 5 percent on average,
according to NEADA. Washington and North Dakota are among the states
with the lowest projected summer electricity costs, with NEADA
estimating household spending of approximately 488 dollars for the
season - less than half the projected cost for households in high-demand
Southern states.

The Pacific Northwest benefits from hydroelectric power infrastructure
that moderates both electricity prices and grid volatility compared with
fossil-fuel-dependent regions.

What the Regional Picture Means Practically

For households in high-cost regions, the practical implication is that
the summer electricity bill is no longer a predictable expense that fits
quietly into a monthly budget. In a state like Texas, where summer
cooling is not optional but a health necessity for much of the season, a
924-dollar summer electricity cost works out to roughly 231 dollars per
month across the four-month cooling season - a meaningful recurring
expense alongside groceries, housing, and healthcare costs that are also
running higher than in prior years.

NEADA noted in its report that one in six U.S. households is currently
behind on utility bills, and that the affordability challenge is most
acute in the regions where cooling demand and electricity prices are
both elevated. The organization is pressing Congress to expand cooling
assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program as
summer temperatures continue to arrive earlier and stay longer than they
did a decade ago.

References: Summer Cooling Costs Projected to Hit Record Highs | NEADA raises summer cooling bill forecast again