More Americans are now falling behind on their utility bills as energy prices continue to climb. Many power companies report more late accounts this month, and the number keeps growing each week.
Families say the higher bills hit fast. The cost of running heat, cooling, and basic appliances rose over the past year. For many homes, the monthly total is now far above what they paid last fall. Some people paid part of the bill. Others pushed payments to the next month and hoped their income would stretch further.
Customer-service teams in several regions say they are getting more calls from people who want extended payment plans. Some callers ask for extra time. Others ask to split the bill into smaller amounts. Workers say these requests used to come in during winter, but they now arrive year-round.
The rising balances worry local officials because unpaid electric or gas bills can turn into deeper debt. When a family falls behind on basic utilities, it often means they are cutting food, medicine, or other essentials to keep the lights on.