Raleigh, NC – (September 30, 2026) The N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) released its second 50 States of Energy Affordability report. The quarterly report tracks a total of 334 actions taken across 42 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to address rising electricity costs since June 2026. Whether establishing new guidelines for utility profit-making, creating new metrics to track how utilities meet affordability targets, or requiring utilities to improve their utilization of existing grid resources, most states are continuing efforts to rein in costs through broad policy pushes.
Customer cost allocation, or efforts by regulators to distribute costs more equitably across customer classes, continued to be a focus area for states. In particular, prevention of cost shifts associated with new large load customers garnered the most widespread attention. Utility oversight and cost recovery were also priority areas, with several states scrutinizing return on equity policies and developing affordability metrics.
State and Utility Action on Energy Affordability (since June 2026)
The purpose of the report is to identify scalable and replicable policy solutions to affordability challenges. To that end, the report highlights areas where legislators, regulators, and governors across the country are considering similar policy approaches, such as: (1) increased control and decision-making power over how utilities’ return on equity rates are determined; (2) the creation of affordability metrics and their use in benchmarking or rewarding utility behaviors; and (3) implementation of grid utilization metrics and incentives for making greater use of existing grid infrastructure, reducing costs for customers.
“While there are many ways to address affordability, our analysis shows that more and more policymakers are concerned about utility business practices,” said Nick Montoni, Senior Program Director at NCCETC. “Legislators are mandating changes to utility business models and profit-making while regulators are voluntarily opening investigations into utility finances and affordability practices, all increasing scrutiny on how utilities make money and pass on costs to consumers.”
The report identifies five top actions since June 2026:
- Indiana Michigan Power requested a rate reduction and measures to stabilize rates for all non-data center customers in 2027;
- California lawmakers advanced several bills intended to review utility business models, provide increased oversight, and expand customer programs and assistance;
- Pennsylvania legislators passed legislation creating new return on equity requirements for utilities;
- The Kentucky Public Service Commission opened a far-reaching investigation into factors impacting energy affordability in the state; and
- Michigan regulators sent the Governor a comprehensive letter recommending legislation that would advance affordability measures.
“Energy affordability is affected by many different factors and can be a difficult thing to define,” noted Autumn Proudlove, Managing Director at NCCETC. “We’re seeing a growing number of states working to tackle this challenge by developing specific metrics to measure and track energy affordability, with some even tying utility profits to these metrics.”
ABOUT THE NC CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CENTER
The NC Clean Energy Technology Center, as part of the College of Engineering at North Carolina State University, advances a sustainable energy economy by educating, demonstrating and providing support for clean energy technologies, practices and policies. It serves as a resource for innovative, sustainable energy technologies through technology demonstration, technical assistance, outreach and training. For more information about the Center, visit: http://www.nccleantech.
Media Contact: Gena Renfrow, NCCETC, [email protected]