As summer approaches, millions of Americans are bracing for higher electric bills. For many families already stretched by rising costs, thats simply not sustainable.
This isnt just about hotter . Its about a fundamental imbalance in our energy system that is driving costs higher.
, driven by data centers, new manufacturing, population growth and the electrification of everything from vehicles to home heating. The United States is using more power in more ways than ever before, but were not building enough new generation to keep up. Simply put, we need more supply.
Across Exelons utilities, about 75% of recent bill increases are tied to the cost of generating electricity â the supply side of the equation â not delivering it. Those costs are set in wholesale markets and passed directly to customers.
Exelons utilities dont benefit when those prices spike. But customers still have to pay them.
And when supply falls behind demand, the result is predictable: prices go up, volatility increases and American families pay the difference.
At Exelon, we see firsthand the pressure customers are under.
We serve nearly 11 million Americans. We hear from them when bills rise and share their frustrations. Thats why we launched the Exelon Promise, which includes a $60 million Customer Relief Fund and protections to help ensure large energy users dont unfairly shift businesses. Were also investing billions to strengthen the grid, improve reliability and prepare for continued growth in demand.
But if we want to meaningfully country, we dont need a less capable grid; we need to start with a simple, common-sense solution: produce more electricity and do it faster.
In many regions, power supply isnt just tight, its shrinking, as new ones come online. At the same time, demand continues to climb. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation has warned that more than half the country faces elevated risks of electricity shortfalls during peak summer conditions, which could mean brownouts or blackouts.
Thats not just a reliability concern. Its a cost problem that shows up on monthly bills.
The increased significantly in recent years, rising by nearly 30% between 2021 and 2025, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. Families and small businesses are feeling it.
What many dont realize is where those increases are coming from. Too often, were having the wrong debate, focused on symptoms instead of solutions.
America needs an that brings more power online quickly and responsibly. That means investing in energy storage, nuclear power, natural gas, renewables, new technology, energy efficiency and the transmission infrastructure needed to deliver it all.
We also need to confront the barriers slowing progress. chains and outdated regulatory structures can delay new generation for years. We simply dont have that kind of time.
We should be open to solutions that can deliver results at scale. In certain cases, allowing regulated utilities to develop and own generation could help bring more power online more quickly and at lower cost. A recent Charles River Associates analysis found that allowing utilities to develop and own generation in certain cases could save Americans up to $20 billion a year while reducing outage risk.
The goal shouldnt be ideological. It should be practical: more supply, greater stability and lower prices over time.
But no utility can solve a nationwide supply challenge alone.
As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, this is a moment to remember what has always set America apart: the ability not just to dream big, but to build the infrastructure that powers our freedom and prosperity. From the railroads that connected a continent to the electric grid that brought power to every home and business, American workers and energy providers have helped build the strongest, most dynamic eco
