FILE-A woman holds an electric bill as she reviews it. (Photo by John Carl D'Annibale/Albany Times Union via Getty Images)
A recent analysis of consumer data shows that more Americans are falling behind on their bills to their utility bills.
The Century Foundation, a liberal think tank, stated in a new report that past-due balances to utility companies spiked 9.7% a year to $789 between the April-June periods of 2024 and 2025.
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Citing estimates from industry experts, the Century Foundation’s analysis noted that it will cost families an average of $976 to heat their homes during the winter months—a 7.6% price increase.
Millions of Americans face utility debt heading into winter
By the numbers:
The Century Foundation noted that roughly 14 million Americans have utility debt so significant that it was sent or soon will be sent to collections.
Analysis shows the amounts are almost twice as high in parts of the South and Appalachia. Meanwhile, on the Atlantic coast and parts of the Midwest, overdue utility balances total over $1,500 on average. States in the Northeast have the highest average utility bills of $300 or more, but other states like Arizona ($289), California ($303), and Texas ($269) are also affected by soaring prices.
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Meanwhile, the Century Foundation analysis found that from March 2022 to June 2025, average monthly energy bills increased from $196 to $265—a 35% increase.
The Century Foundation noted in their analysis that during President Donald Trump’s first six months in the White House, there was a 3.8% jump in households with seriously overdue utility bills.
Overdue energy bill balances rise over the past few years
Why you should care:
The analysis reveals that since 2022, the average overdue balance on utility bills climbed from $597 to $789—a 32% increase. According to the Century Foundation, some households who are already financially vulnerable are affected the most, with past-due utility balances climbing from $643 to $834.
Data for the report was collected using the Century Foundation and Protect Borrowers’ analysis using records from the University of California Consumer Credit Panel, a nationally representative sample of Americans with credit files. According to the report, utility obligations show up on credit reports in two forms: seriously past-due debts and active (noncollection) utility accounts.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by analysis from the Century Foundation. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.