Utility rate-hike requests hit $9.4B in Q1—and trust in oversight is slipping. (PowerLines)
The trust gap: Just 29% of US customers think their state government protects their interests when regulating utilities, a PowerLines-Ipsos poll of over 2,000 adults found. That’s nearly a 10-point drop from last year’s poll. And only 17% believe their utility puts customers’ interests above its own.
The bipartisan squeeze: 80% of respondents “feel helpless” to control what they’re charged for gas or electricity. This concern bridges party lines and paychecks—74% of $100K+ households are worried, too.