Electric and gas utilities asked state regulators for $4.5 billion in rate increases in the third quarter of 2026, according to PowerLines, a nonprofit that tracks rate filings. It calls that the highest third quarter on record. The 2026 total through September is $23.1 billion.
A request is the opening bid in a months-long review. It is not a bill increase, and regulators usually approve less.
The Numbers
| Measure | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 requests | $4.5 billion | PowerLines, Oct. 7, 2026 |
| 2026 requests through Q3 | $23.1 billion | PowerLines |
| Customers potentially affected by Q3 filings | 45.5 million | PowerLines |
| Q2 2026 requests (for comparison) | $9.2 billion | Utility Dive, July 14, 2026, citing PowerLines |
Q3 was smaller than Q2 in dollars. It is a record for a third quarter, which is typically a quieter filing period.
By Region, Q3 2026
| Region | Requested | Customers (approx.) | Requested per customer (our arithmetic) |
|---|---|---|---|
| South | $2.2 billion | 11 million | about $200 |
| Northeast | $0.9 billion | 5.6 million | about $161 |
| Midwest | $0.8 billion | 7.9 million | about $101 |
| West | $0.6 billion | 20.8 million | about $29 |
Regional figures are from Utility Dive’s summary of the PowerLines report. Per customer = requested dollars ÷ customers. This is a simple division to show scale, not a bill estimate. Requests can cover several years, include gas and business customers, and are usually cut before approval. The regional customer counts add up to 45.3 million against PowerLines’ 45.5 million, a rounding difference.
The Largest Requests
Utility Dive reports the largest Q3 request was Jersey Central Power & Light (FirstEnergy, New Jersey), filed in July:
- $253 million increase in base distribution rates.
- Recovery of $476 million in deferred storm costs over 10 years.
- An average residential bill increase of about 8.8%, which the utility said would not reach bills until 2028.
PowerLines’ own filing list includes two we can describe from earlier coverage or the filing summary:
- Oklahoma Gas & Electric: $395 million, filed September 30, 2026, about $23.88 a month for the average residential customer. See our OG&E article.
- Potomac Edison (Maryland): $52.8 million in base distribution revenue, filed September 4, 2026, about $9.47 a month for the average residential customer, per PowerLines.
Utility Dive also names Indiana Michigan Power, Dominion Energy Virginia and CenterPoint Energy in Texas among the large Q3 filers, without amounts.
What Utilities Say Is Driving It
PowerLines reviewed individual Q3 filings and summarized the reasons utilities gave:
- Transmission and distribution investment: cited by at least 15 utilities. PowerLines says $2.8 billion of the $3.6 billion it analyzed was “at least partially driven” by it.
- Profit-related needs: at least 13 filings worth $1.7 billion, including gas utilities whose earnings fell after a mild winter.
- Extreme weather: five filings totaling $1.1 billion.
A single request can be counted under more than one reason, so these do not add up to the total.
Requests vs. Approvals
Regulators rarely approve the full amount. Three cases from our own coverage:
| Case | Requested | Approved | Approved share |
|---|---|---|---|
| DTE Electric, Michigan (decided Feb. 2026) | $574.1 million | $242.4 million | 42% |
| Public Service Co. of Oklahoma (decided Jan. 2025) | $217.6 million | $119.5 million | 55% |
| Mon Power and Potomac Edison, West Virginia (2026) | 13% bill increase | 4.25% over two years | about a third |
The West Virginia figures come from the state Public Service Commission’s own commentary. In July, Utility Dive reported that regulators approved 58% of the costs utilities sought to add to rates in 2023 and 2024.
So a $23.1 billion year of requests does not mean $23.1 billion of higher bills. It does show the direction of costs utilities are trying to recover.
How to Read This Data
- PowerLines is an advocacy group. It describes its mission as modernizing utility regulation. Its data come from public filings, but its framing argues for regulatory change.
- The index is approximate. PowerLines says so. One of its pages gives $4.6 billion for Q3 in an image caption and $4.5 billion in the text.
- Requests mix electric and gas. The reports we read do not split the total by fuel.
What It Means for Your Bill
- Check your own state. Our rates by state guides list approved and pending cases for each state.
- Watch the order, not the filing. The approved amount and the effective date are what matter for your bill.
- Comment if you want to. Most commissions accept public comments and hold public hearings in rate cases.
- For solar: rising delivery charges, which transmission and distribution spending feeds, raise the value of each kWh you produce and use yourself. They do not raise what many utilities pay for exported power. See our export credit comparison.
For how a request becomes a rate, see how electric rate cases work.
Limitations
We could not read the full PowerLines PDF. Regional figures and the JCP&L details come from Utility Dive’s summary. The driver figures come from PowerLines’ newsletter. Neither source gives an electric-only total or an exact Q3 2025 comparison.
Sources
- PowerLines, “Utilities Request $23.1 Billion in Rate Increases Through Third Quarter of 2026,” October 7, 2026
- PowerLines, “What drove record-breaking utility rate requests in Q3 2026?,” October 7, 2026
- Utility Dive, “US electric, gas utility rate requests spike to $4.5B in Q3: PowerLines,” October 9, 2026
- Utility Dive, “Utilities requested $9.2B in rate hikes in Q2: PowerLines,” July 14, 2026
- The Dominion Post, “Explaining the most recent electric rate case,” October 9, 2026
- Michigan Advance, “MPSC approves $242.2 million rate increase for DTE customers,” February 19, 2026
- Southwest Ledger, “State regulators approve scaled-down PSO rate hike despite AARP protest,” January 21, 2025
Frequently asked questions
How much have utilities requested in rate increases in 2026?
PowerLines reports $23.1 billion in electric and gas rate increase requests in the first three quarters of 2026, including $4.5 billion in the third quarter.
Does a rate increase request mean my bill will go up by that amount?
No. A request starts a review by state regulators that usually takes months, and the approved amount is often much lower. Rates change only after the regulator issues an order.
What is driving utility rate increase requests?
In its review of Q3 filings, PowerLines found transmission and distribution investment cited most often, followed by profit-related needs and extreme weather. Those are the utilities' stated reasons as summarized by PowerLines, an advocacy group.
What was the largest rate request in Q3 2026?
Utility Dive reports it was Jersey Central Power & Light's July filing, seeking a $253 million base distribution increase plus recovery of $476 million in deferred storm costs over 10 years, an average residential bill increase of about 8.8% that the utility said would not reach bills until 2028.
