Trump promised to cut electric bills in half. His energy policy is doing the opposite, new analysis finds
Trump Promised to Cut Electric Bills. New Analysis Shows the Opposite
Trump promised to cut electric bills - President Donald Trump vowed to halve electric bills through his energy strategy, but a recent study reveals that his policies are driving up costs instead. As demand for electricity surges due to AI advancements and industrial growth, Trump’s administration has prioritized fossil fuels over renewables. This shift, combined with regulatory rollbacks, is leading to higher energy expenses for American households and businesses, contradicting his campaign promises.
The Promise and the Reality
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump emphasized reducing energy costs by cutting taxes and deregulating the power sector. He argued that expanding coal, oil, and natural gas production would lower prices, while supporting renewable energy would create financial burdens. However, new analysis from Energy Innovation shows that his approach is accelerating the rise in electric bills, not slowing them.
The Trump administration’s resistance to renewable energy funding has stalled critical projects. In 2025, Republicans blocked a major bill aimed at expanding solar, wind, and battery storage initiatives, which experts say could have mitigated cost increases. Additionally, the administration delayed approvals for clean energy infrastructure, favoring traditional energy sources. This has led to a bottleneck in modernizing the grid, making it harder to meet rising energy needs efficiently.
Rising Costs and Policy Impacts
Electricity rates have climbed significantly since Trump took office, with over a dozen states reporting double-digit annual increases. While data centers and industrial facilities are often cited as energy consumers, the study highlights that residential and commercial users are bearing the brunt of higher bills. Trump’s tax reforms, which allow market-driven decisions on power generation, are being criticized as a key factor in this trend.
“Trump promised to cut electric bills, but his energy policy is increasing them,” said Sam Ricketts, co-founder of S2 Strategies. “By phasing out renewable incentives and slowing down clean energy projects, the administration is locking in higher costs for decades.”
Despite the administration’s claims that deregulation lowers costs, energy analysts argue that the lack of investment in renewables is inflating prices. For example, the decline in solar and wind subsidies has slowed the pace of adoption, forcing utilities to rely more on expensive fossil fuels. This has created a cycle where higher production costs lead to higher retail prices, directly contradicting Trump’s promises.
Energy Innovation’s report projects a 17% rise in average electricity rates by 2030, driven by the Trump administration’s approach. The analysis also notes that while solar installations are still growing rapidly, their expansion has been hindered by policy delays. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, 91% of new energy capacity came from renewables, but this growth has slowed under Trump’s leadership.
White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers defended the administration’s strategy, stating, “Trump promised to cut electric bills by prioritizing market-driven energy decisions. These reforms have reduced reliance on costly subsidies and strengthened the U.S. energy supply.” However, critics point to the long-term consequences, including higher prices for consumers and reduced investment in future clean technologies.