How to Fight an Electric Rate Increase: A Step-by-Step Guide
Last updated 2026-10-16
A rate increase is not final when a utility announces it. For investor-owned utilities, the state utility commission has to approve it, and in the cases BillHike tracks, commissions granted a median of about 47% of what utilities asked for (see why bills are rising). Public comments are part of the official record the commission reviews. Here is how to take part.
1. Find out who sets your rates
It depends on who owns your utility. Look up your utility by ZIP code; its page says who sets its rates.
- Investor-owned utility (for example Duke Energy, Xcel Energy, PG&E): rates change through a rate case at the state commission. The steps below apply.
- Electric cooperative: a board elected by the members sets rates. Go to the co-op's board meetings, read its member notices and vote in board elections. A few states also review co-op rates at the commission.
- City or municipal utility: the city council or a utility board sets rates, usually at a public meeting. Comment there.
2. Get the docket number
Every rate case has a docket or case number, such as E-7, Sub 1329 in North Carolina or R-2025-3057164 in Pennsylvania. You need it for any comment. Each rate case page on BillHike shows the docket and links to the commission's file. Utility bill inserts and notices also print it.
3. File a written public comment
Most commissions accept comments through an online form, by email or by mail; some require a free account on their filing system. Look for "public comment" or "consumer comment" on the commission's site, listed below.
- Put the docket number and the utility's name at the top.
- Say who you are and where you live, then what the increase would cost you. Use your own bill: "My bill is $180 a month; a 15% increase adds $27."
- Be specific about what matters to you: fixed income, outages, slow storm repair, the size of the requested profit rate. Specific comments carry more weight than form letters.
- Be polite and short. One page is enough.
- Send it before the deadline. Comments usually close before or shortly after the last hearing.
A public comment does not make you a formal party to the case; that requires a petition to intervene, usually through a lawyer. Comments are still read and are part of the record.
4. Speak at the public hearing
Commissions hold public comment hearings during most major rate cases, often in the evening, in towns across the service area and online. You sign up, get a few minutes, and your statement is transcribed into the record. Hearing dates are in the commission's notice and in local news.
5. Contact your consumer advocate
Most states have an office that represents residential customers in rate cases, such as a public advocate, an office of consumer counsel or people's counsel, or a citizens utility board. They file testimony, cross-examine the utility and often negotiate the settlement. Tell them about your situation; they collect customer stories for their case.
Rate cases open now
These 23 cases are pending or have a settlement awaiting approval, soonest decision first. Comment deadlines usually come before the decision date.
| Utility | Docket | Asked | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson Electric Power (AZ) | E-01933A-25-0103 | 13.7% | Dec 2026 |
| Avista (WA) | UE-260007 | 13.9% | Dec 2026 |
| Wisconsin Public Service (WI) | 6690-UR-129 | 10.29% | Dec 2026 |
| We Energies (WI) | 5-UR-112 | 10.28% | Dec 2026 |
| APS (AZ) | E-01345A-25-0105 | 13.99% | Dec 2026 |
| Appalachian Power (VA) | PUR-2026-00044 | 5.4% | Jan 2027 |
| Puget Sound Energy (WA) | UE-260005 | 16.75% | Jan 2027 |
| Montana-Dakota Utilities (ND) | PU-26-241 | 18.9% | Jan 2027 |
| BGE (MD) | 9888 | 4% | Jan 2027 |
| DTE Energy (MI) | U-22046 | 9.7% | Feb 2027 |
| Rocky Mountain Power Wyoming (WY) | 20000-710-ER-26 | 8.5% | Mar 2027 |
| UPPCO (MI) | U-22032 | 15.6% | Mar 2027 |
| OG&E (OK) | PUD 2026-000067 | 17.5% | Mar 2027 |
| Pacific Power Oregon (OR) | UE 470 | 10.8% | Mar 2027 |
| Consumers Energy (MI) | U-22070 | 9% | Apr 2027 |
| JCP&L (NJ) | ER26080420 | 8.8% | May 2027 |
| Ameren Missouri (MO) | ER-2026-0291 | 10% | May 2027 |
| PG&E (CA) | A.25-05-009 | 5.2% | May 2027 |
| Eversource Connecticut (CT) | 26-05-10 | 18% | Jun 2027 |
| PSO (OK) | PUD 2025-000075 | 15% | not scheduled |
| Duke Energy Carolinas (NC) | E-7, Sub 1329 | 15% | not scheduled |
| Duke Energy Progress (NC) | E-2, Sub 1380 | 18.5% | not scheduled |
| Xcel Energy New Mexico (NM) | 25-00079-UT | 16.73% | not scheduled |
Every state's utility commission
- Alabama: Alabama Public Service Commission
- Alaska: Regulatory Commission of Alaska
- Arizona: Arizona Corporation Commission
- Arkansas: Arkansas Public Service Commission
- California: California Public Utilities Commission
- Colorado: Colorado Public Utilities Commission
- Connecticut: Public Utilities Regulatory Authority
- Delaware: Delaware Public Service Commission
- District of Columbia: DC Public Service Commission
- Florida: Florida Public Service Commission
- Georgia: Georgia Public Service Commission
- Hawaii: Hawaii Public Utilities Commission
- Idaho: Idaho Public Utilities Commission
- Illinois: Illinois Commerce Commission
- Indiana: Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission
- Iowa: Iowa Utilities Commission
- Kansas: Kansas Corporation Commission
- Kentucky: Kentucky Public Service Commission
- Louisiana: Louisiana Public Service Commission
- Maine: Maine Public Utilities Commission
- Maryland: Maryland Public Service Commission
- Massachusetts: Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities
- Michigan: Michigan Public Service Commission
- Minnesota: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
- Mississippi: Mississippi Public Service Commission
- Missouri: Missouri Public Service Commission
- Montana: Montana Public Service Commission
- Nebraska: Nebraska Public Service Commission
- Nevada: Public Utilities Commission of Nevada
- New Hampshire: New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission
- New Jersey: New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
- New Mexico: New Mexico Public Regulation Commission
- New York: New York Public Service Commission
- North Carolina: North Carolina Utilities Commission
- North Dakota: North Dakota Public Service Commission
- Ohio: Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
- Oklahoma: Oklahoma Corporation Commission
- Oregon: Oregon Public Utility Commission
- Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
- Rhode Island: Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission
- South Carolina: Public Service Commission of South Carolina
- South Dakota: South Dakota Public Utilities Commission
- Tennessee: Tennessee Public Utility Commission
- Texas: Public Utility Commission of Texas
- Utah: Utah Public Service Commission
- Vermont: Vermont Public Utility Commission
- Virginia: Virginia State Corporation Commission
- Washington: Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission
- West Virginia: Public Service Commission of West Virginia
- Wisconsin: Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
- Wyoming: Wyoming Public Service Commission
Sources
Commission names and sites from each state's official commission website. Rate cases and their status from the dockets linked on each case page, last checked 2026-10-16.