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Noah Dormady, Associate Professor of Public Policy, The Ohio State University

INSANE: How deregulation made electricity more expensive not cheaper | Rare Historical Photos

Plugging in costs more these days. Devonyu/iStock / Getty Images Plus

American families are feeling the pinch of rising electricity prices. In the past five years alone, the generation portion of the standard service residential electric bill in Columbus, Ohio, has increased by 110%. This is one data point in a national trend.

Energy affordability is quickly shaping up to be a key election issue at all levels of American politics. And more than half of U.S. adults surveyed in January 2026 reported being very concerned about the price of electricity.

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