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Here's how much more you'll pay to keep cool this summer

By
Published  May 20, 2025 11:06am MST
Lifestyle
FOX Local
article

(File: Pinstock / iStock / Getty Images Plus)

The Brief

    • Cooling costs are expected to hit a 12-year high this summer, with average household electricity bills projected to reach $784.
    • Inflation and climate change-driven heat are driving up electricity prices, hitting low-income families the hardest.
    • Experts warn that rising costs may force families to reduce cooling, increasing health risks from extreme heat.

Summer is just around the corner, and already people are cranking up the air conditioners in their homes as temperatures are already climbing. 

But the price of convenience and comfort comes at an increasing cost, according to industry experts. 

How much will it cost to stay cool this summer?

By the numbers:

The National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) and the Center for Energy Poverty and Climate (CEPC) released its annual Summer Residential Cooling Outlook.

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Experts said that consumers will be paying the highest they have in 12 years to cool their home this summer. 

The average cost of electricity is projected to reach $784, a 6.2% increase from $737 last year. After adjusting for inflation, the average family will see an increase of 4.2%, according to both agencies. 

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The outlook also revealed that low-income families are being hit the hardest by rising prices and a lack of federal funding. 

Why are prices rising?

Dig deeper:

Both agencies said the reason why the cost of electricity is rising is because of inflation and the increasing temperatures, which they believe is a result of climate change. 

Why you should care:

Experts fear the rising cost of keeping your house cool this summer will force families to cut back on doing so, which could lead to illness and death caused by extreme heat. 

Shocking moment: Lightning strikes police cruiser in Oklahoma storm

Shocking moment: Lightning strikes police cruiser in Oklahoma storm

A police cruiser in Newcastle, Oklahoma, was struck by lightning Monday evening as severe storms swept through the area. (Credit: Newcastle Oklahoma Police Department)

They urge state and federal leaders to offer more assistance to help families keep cool over the next few months. 

The Source: The information in this story comes from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) and the Center for Energy Poverty and Climate (CEPC), which released their annual Summer Residential Cooling Outlook. This story was reported from Los Angeles. 

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