Rising Heat and Humidity in Greater Boston Lead to Soaring Electric Bills for Residents

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As Greater Boston swelters through one of the hottest and most humid summers on record, residents are grappling with a sharp increase in their electric bills. The combination of rising temperatures and persistent humidity has led to a significant spike in energy usage as households struggle to keep cool.

Kim White, a South Boston resident, was shocked when she received her July electric bill, which nearly tripled compared to June. “Now I’m forcing me and my husband to be a lot more cautious,” said White, 36. “On the weekends, I’m making sure we shut down all of our computers, unplug things, because I don’t want to be accidentally using more electricity.”

White’s experience is not unique. Many residents in the region are unplugging appliances, turning off lights, and limiting air conditioning use in an effort to manage soaring electric bills. For some, the increase has been particularly drastic. Nate Cornwell, who lives in Saugus with two roommates, saw their electric bills balloon to around $600. “March and April were very normal, like what I would expect for a bill,” Cornwell said. “And then as soon as May and June hit, it seemed to more than triple.”

The increase in energy costs is not due to recent rate hikes, according to an Eversource spokesperson. “Higher usage is the key factor at play here,” the spokesperson explained. With daily high temperatures this summer consistently 2 to 6 degrees above normal, and nighttime lows not offering much relief, air conditioners have been running almost non-stop, driving up electricity consumption.

The humidity has been another significant factor. With much of New England experiencing one of its most humid summers on record, air conditioners have to work harder and longer to cool and dehumidify the air. This increased demand on cooling systems is contributing to the surge in electricity use.

The impact of the extreme weather is being felt across the nation. A recent poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about 7 in 10 Americans said extreme heat has driven up their electricity bills in the last year. The same percentage of adults who have experienced severe weather events in the past five years believe that climate change is a contributing factor.

Art O’Dea, a 62-year-old Amesbury resident, has seen his electricity usage climb steadily over the years. “I am a believer in trusting science, and I do think that we need to take some sort of action to try to stem the impact of our actions on climate,” O’Dea said. He noted that since January 2020, his average monthly utility bills have increased by nearly $140.

For those on fixed incomes, the spike in energy costs is particularly challenging. Jonathan Spiller, who lives in a subsidized apartment in Arlington, typically pays $15 to $20 a month for electricity. But after running his air conditioner day and night through much of July, his bill shot up to $74. “Even though I have the discounted rate, it doesn’t seem like a discount, because how can it be so high?” Spiller said, adding that he has had to cut back on groceries to cover the extra expense.

Residents like Kim White are calling for more transparency from utility companies to help them understand the reasons behind the rising costs. “I don’t even have a clear solution or something to point to, to say this is what is increasing your bill,” White said. “If I had that, I could make those adjustments. In the meantime, I’m just sitting in my office in the dark.”

As the summer heat continues, Greater Boston residents are bracing for more high bills in the months ahead, underscoring the need for strategies to mitigate the impact of extreme weather on energy consumption and household budgets.