A year after Donald Trump, as a presidential candidate, vowed to slash American energy bills in half, a Guardian analysis reveals his administration has comprehensively failed to meet that pledge. Instead, households across the United States are grappling with significant increases in their gas and electricity costs, pushing family budgets to the brink.
Households Forced to Make Impossible Choices
In Baltimore, Maryland, 76-year-old Zattura Sims-El has adopted extreme measures to control her utility spending. She unplugs every appliance not in immediate use, yet her monthly bills consistently exceeded $500 in 2025, with one month reaching a staggering $975. "It's obscene," said Sims-El, a resident of her home for 46 years. "How is anyone supposed to keep up with this?"
The data supports her experience. According to the Energy Information Administration, the average US household paid nearly $116 more for electricity in 2025 than the year before, a 6.7% increase. Gas prices also rose by an average of 5.2%.
The financial strain is forcing painful sacrifices. In Denton, Texas, Samantha Lott, who requires an anti-inflammatory diet for a endometriosis diagnosis, cannot afford the necessary groceries. More critically, she must choose between medical appointments and paying her electricity bill. "The copay is $70 for an appointment, but I need that $70 to pay my bills," she explained.
Liz Jacob, an energy insecurity coordinator at the Sugar Law Center in Detroit, Michigan, confirms this is a widespread crisis. Clients are "cutting back on food, toys, resources for their kids and everything they can." Some, she said, are forced to choose between gas and electricity, resorting to dangerous alternatives like space heaters or living without light.
Drivers of the Soaring Costs
Experts point to two major factors behind the price surge. Firstly, the explosive growth of data centres for artificial intelligence has placed immense strain on the power grid. In October 2025, the PJM grid operator, which covers 13 states and Washington D.C., identified data centres as the "primary reason" for increased power prices.
Amid public outrage, President Trump recently announced he is pressing technology companies to cover the costs associated with their data centres' energy demands. However, his administration's own policies are also cited as a key contributor.
A pro-fossil fuel agenda prioritising liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports has raised domestic energy prices. A December 2025 report from Public Citizen found that increased LNG exports cost US households a combined $12bn in just the first nine months of the year.
David Jones, a Trump voter from Baltimore's Curtis Bay neighbourhood, saw his bills rise by at least $100 monthly in 2025. While he retains some fondness for the president, he believes the "'drill, baby, drill' agenda does a disservice to Americans."
Safety Net Eroded as Bills Rise
As costs climb, the Trump administration has simultaneously made it harder for struggling families to access aid. Tax credits for energy-efficiency upgrades were eliminated in 2025, and the White House attempted to scrap the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which aids 6 million Americans annually.
Although LIHEAP survived, it was crippled by staff layoffs and processing delays exacerbated by a record government shutdown. Angie Shaneyfelt, 52, also of Curtis Bay, saw her bill jump from under $300 to $400 in a month. Her application for LIHEAP-funded assistance was denied due to overwhelming demand and depleted funds.
"The only place I was able to find aid was from a church," Shaneyfelt said, who now contemplates taking a second job with DoorDash despite working full-time, fearing it will cost her precious time with her 13-year-old twin daughters. "I've already slimmed back so much stuff. And now I have to give up my time with my family?"
The White House, in a statement from spokesperson Taylor Rogers, blamed "Blue states" for "Green Energy Scam policies" and reiterated its commitment to an "energy dominance agenda." For households like those of Zattura Sims-El, however, the political rhetoric offers little relief from the relentless pressure of the monthly bill. "Trump is a liar, and that's something I know from the bottom of my heart," she said.
