US Wholesale Electricity Prices Projected to Rise Significantly Through 2026
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) predicts significant increases in wholesale electricity prices over the next two years, with average prices projected to rise by 23% in 2025 and an additional 8.5% in 2026. The primary drivers of this surge are a substantial increase in demand for electricity, particularly in the West South Central region fueled by growing data center and cryptocurrency mining operations, as well as rising fuel costs, including natural gas prices expected to average nearly $4/MMBtu in 2026 due to increased LNG exports and limited production growth.
