Rising Utility Costs Add Pressure To Household Budgets

If you’ve been a little nervous opening your energy bill lately, you’re definitely not alone on that one.

A new look at energy costs across the country shows Montana has seen some of the bigger jumps in electricity prices over the past year.

Data Shows Montana In The Top 10 For Energy Price Increases

According to data from Visual Capitalist, electricity prices in Montana are up about 13% year over year.

That might not sound extreme at first glance, but it actually puts Montana firmly in the top 10 across America for price increases.

And when you stack that on top of groceries, insurance, and property taxes, it’s easy to see how more and more of household budgets are getting squeezed each month.

The tough part with energy costs is there is no real way around them.

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Growing Electricity Demand And Data Centers Raise Concerns

You can cut back on eating out or shop differently at the grocery store, but keeping the lights on is not exactly optional.

There is also concern that these costs could keep climbing as demand for electricity continues to grow, especially with more data centers coming online across the country.

Montana may not have seen the biggest jump, but in a state with lower average wages, double-digit increases in utilities still hit pretty hard and end up being one of those expenses people really have to plan around.

Source: Visual Capitalist

KEEP READING: Which states have the most expensive electric bills?

The average total electricity cost in the United States last year was $1,820. That was an increase of $110, or 6.4%, from 2024.

Source: Energy Information Administration via the Joint Economic Committee Democrats

Gallery Credit: New Jersey 101.5

LOOK: Tips For Saving On Your Energy Costs In Montana

Gallery Credit: Mary K

KEEP SCROLLING: 5 Montana Towns Companies Are Targeting For New AI Data Centers

AI data centers are the talk of the country right now and Montana has been viewed as a prime location for these data centers. Here are five towns that are being looked at as potential data center sites based on proposals and current happenings.

Gallery Credit: Chris

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