INSIGHTSSERIES
Power & Utilities | Energy Efficiency
March 16, 2026
States Examine Energy Affordability as Electricity Demand and Infrastructure Needs Grow
From reviewing utilities’ energy affordability programs to examining procurement policies, recent actions aim to balance grid investment needs with efforts to limit bill impacts for consumers.
As the energy sector grapples with unprecedented load growth, aging infrastructure, and necessary grid modernization, state utility regulators are increasingly… Read the full report
Key Takeaways
- Growth in electricity demand, particularly from data centers and electrification, is increasing the need for new generation, transmission, and grid upgrades, raising questions about future rate impacts.
- Discussions at the NARUC Winter Policy Summit reflected regulators’ focus on managing rising infrastructure investment and system changes, with energy affordability emerging as a growing regulatory priority.
- Recent utility commission actions including those in the District of Columbia, Missouri, and Indiana addressing energy affordability, as well as the White House’s “Ratepayer Protection Pledge” signal efforts to shield households from infrastructure costs for large electricity users.
