'This Has Been Traumatic': Americans Struggle With Rising Energy Costs Under Trump

Last Updated:January 11, 2026, 22:31 IST

Nearly one in 20 US households risk having their utility debt sent to collections this winter, according to recent research.

A customer pumps gas into their vehicle in Miami, Florida. (Getty Images via AFP)

Millions of Americans have been left struggling to pay their energy bills as electricity and gas prices continue to rise under US President Donald Trump, pushing many households deeper into debt and forcing difficult choices during winter.

Kristy Hallowell, a 44-year-old mother from Greenwood Lake, New York, lost her job just as her monthly energy bill tripled to $1,800. Unable to keep up with payments, her gas and electricity were cut off. For six months last year, she, her two children and her mother relied on a generator to heat and light their home.

While her electricity has since been restored after help from a local non-profit, her gas remains off and bills continue to pile up. She says she now owes about $3,000 in utility debt.

“This has been traumatic, to say the least," she told BBC.

Hallowell’s experience is far from unique. Nearly one in 20 US households risk having their utility debt sent to collections this winter, according to recent research.

Data from the Century Foundation and Protect Borrowers shows that severely overdue utility debt rose by 3.8% in the first six months of Trump’s second term.

Energy costs have become a major cost-of-living concern. Official figures from November show electricity prices were up 6.9% compared with a year earlier, well above overall inflation.

During his campaign, Trump promised to halve energy bills, and has since claimed costs are falling. The White House has blamed lingering economic pain on former President Joe Biden and high interest rates.

At the same time, the federal government has proposed cutting funding that helps low-income households pay their energy bills. Experts warn that the administration’s rollback of clean energy projects could push prices even higher.

“This is going to be a huge deal, both as a policy matter and a political matter," said Alex Jacquez of the Groundwork Collaborative.

Charities say the pressure is growing. Laurie Wheelock of the Public Utility Law Project of New York said unpaid utility cut-offs rose in 2025, with many clients now owing more than $6,000, far higher than before the pandemic.

“There’s been this difficult mix of increased costs and financial instability," she added.

According to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, winter heating costs are expected to rise by more than 9% this season, and experts warn that relief for consumers is unlikely any time soon, with energy bills set to remain high in the months ahead.

News world 'This Has Been Traumatic': Americans Struggle With Rising Energy Costs Under Trump

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