New Years Resolutions – Lowering Your Utility Bill with Solar
The new year is upon us, which means that it is time for 2026 New Year's Resolutions. In the next year, we expect to continue to see utility bills rise. Whether you are a commercial business or a homeowner, you have seen what an increased utility bill looks like for your life or business. As of 2025, the state of Illinois has seen a 17.2% increase in revenue per kilowatt-hour (kWh) compared to 2024. The question is: why is electricity increasing, and what will this mean for the new year’s utility bills?
The recent increase is being led primarily by business and industrial activity. Commercial electricity use, including demand from artificial intelligence data centers, and industrial use from manufacturing, are both growing faster than other sectors. Overall, electricity consumption is expected to increase at an average annual rate of about 1.7% from 2020 to 2026, with commercial demand growing the fastest, followed by industrial use. Residential electricity growth remains modest and varies mainly with weather conditions.
To meet rising demand, the U.S. power system is adding new generation and storage capacity, with solar energy and battery storage accounting for most of the expansion. Much of this development is occurring in Texas, California, the Midwest, and the Northeast. Utilities and grid operators are also strengthening the system by investing in energy efficiency programs, demand- side management, and expanded high-voltage transmission, all aimed at maintaining reliability as electricity use continues to grow.
As electricity demand rises, utility rates are expected to continue to increase in 2026, leading to higher monthly utility bills. Going solar helps to protect against these rate increases and reducereliance on utility while locking in more predictable energy costs. With prices trending upward, choosing solar is a smart and simple New Year’s resolution that can deliver long-term savings.
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