This Retiree Got a $700 Utility Bill. She Sold Her Family Home to Cut Costs
Diane Sylvia downsized to save money on utility bills.
Tony Loung
Many adults 50 and older are facing rising costs for residential gas and electricity, driven in part by hefty fees and utility companies that strike deals to accommodate large energy users, like data centers.
Everyday expenses are already squeezing budgets for those on fixed incomes. And 2025 was a standout year for utility rate hikes.
Investor-owned electric and gas companies requested nearly $31 billion in increases last year from regulators, more than twice the amount in 2024, affecting nearly 81 million Americans nationwide, according to a recent analysis by PowerLines, a nonprofit focused on utility affordability.
AARP has been fighting back against rate increases, supporting laws that call for price transparency and protecting bill-pay assistance programs at risk of budget cuts. Our lobbying work across the country has resulted in guardrails around what charges companies pass on to consumers and has helped negotiate savings for ratepayers.
AARP state offices have also kept discussions going with local leaders on the importance of keeping heating and cooling bills affordable.
Mary West poses for a portrait in her backyard. Behind her, on the roof of her home, can be seen one of the two banks of solar panels that Mrs. West has added to reduce the costs of her electric bill.
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