Independent Fiscal Office Reports Average Cost Of Electricity In PA Jumped 14.6% Over Past Year, Total Average PA Electricity Bill Has Increased 20.6% Since 2024

On July 27, the Independent Fiscal Office released a report documenting a 14.6% increase in the average cost of electricity in Pennsylvania over the last year, based on the changes in the "price to compare' calculated by each electric utility for default electricity service.

This cost is separate from the charges billed by electricity utilities for maintenance and distribution costs for the electric grid.

This is the third double-digit increase in the average year over year price to compare since June 2025--

-- June 2025 - Nov. 2025: 15.6%

-- Dec. 2025 - May 2026: 17.9%

-- June 2026 - Nov. 2026: 11.9%

In a separate analysis of the wholesale cost of electricity based on the PJM Monitoring Analytics, the cost of electricity jumped 48.3% in 2025 and further surged 75.5% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the first quarter of 2025.

The IFO said the average monthly electric bill-- including all charges and taxes-- for the typical Pennsylvania household has increased from $213 in 2024 to $257 in 2026-- 20.6%.

The IFO noted the increases in electricity have been driven by the cost of energy, including the dramatic increase in regional electricity demand [from data centers] that is outpacing electricity generation.

Click Here for the full report.

Resource Link:

-- A.I. Data Center Legislative Scorecard: Pennsylvania Failed To Finalize Meaningful Legislation On Energy Affordability, To Increase Electric Generation And Give Communities The Tools They Need To Cope With A.I. Proposals [PaEN] 

[Posted: July 28, 2026]  PA Environment Digest