Here's how power and gasoline costs compare by state

Data: EPRI; Chart: Jacque Schrag/AxiosGasoline is a bigger household expense than electricity bills nationwide — but the difference varies a lot by state, a new analysis finds. Why it matters: The report is a great snapshot of total and relative energy expenses as the topic rises on the political radar.The nonprofit Electric Power Research Institute studied U.S. households' "energy wallet" — what they pay for gasoline, power, natural gas, heating oil and propane, and more. The big picture: Last year, total "wallet" spending averaged $5,530 per household, with $1,860 for electric bills and $2,930 for gasoline.That's pretty similar to 2020 levels in inflation-adjusted dollars. But there was lots of variation in between, largely from gasoline price changes, while power has been steadier. New England and Alaska have the highest costs. Colder climates bring more fuel use for heating, often with fuel oil and propane that are relatively costly.In a few Northeast states, such as New York and Connecticut, gasoline and electricity costs weren't all that far apart. In the West, gasoline often far outstripped electricity.The state with the lowest costs: Utah, which boasts both a mild climate and relatively low energy prices.The intrigue: Electricity prices are rising.DOE's independent stats arm sees residential power costs up 4% in 2025 to 17 cents per kilowatt-hour.The Energy Information Administration outlook released last week sees another rise to 18 cents per kWh next year.Zoom out: The report also looks well into the future and finds that tech changes could deeply cut household costs, especially electric vehicles but also building electrification and more. EPRI's modeling shows potential for a 36% cut in household energy costs, in real terms, by 2050.What we're watching: Nearer-term changes as the 2026 midterm elections loom and U.S. electricity demand grows thanks to AI and more.Democrats and allied groups hope to make rising power bills a major liability for Republicans. They argue the new budget law's pullback on renewables incentives puts even more upward pressure on power bills.Sign up here to receive the free daily Generate newsletter.

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