News Summary

• electricity increased 4.8% in February nationwide and piped natural gas prices rose 10.9%.
• That surpassed inflation even before the attacks on Iran by the U.S. and Israel sent energy costs ballooning.
• Rising electricity bills emerged as a campaign issue in recent elections, including during gubernatorial races won by Democrats in New Jersey and Virginia.
• An analysis by the nonprofit PowerLines found residents are not likely to get a break any time soon because new gas and electricity rate hike requests could affect more than 80 million Americans.