Electric bills in parts of West Virginia have risen so sharply that some residents are paying more for electricity than their monthly mortgage, according to an April 14 report by PBS. The issue is part of a broader cost-of-living crisis affecting many households in the region.
The rising cost of utilities has put financial pressure on families and individuals, especially those with fixed incomes. This situation highlights the growing challenge of affording basic necessities such as electricity and heat.
PBS interviewed Rainelle resident Rebecca Michalski, who said her February electric bill reached $940.08—an amount that exceeded her entire monthly income. Despite efforts to reduce usage, including relying on a single energy-efficient lamp at night, Michalski said she was unable to lower her costs enough to make them manageable. “They come and cut off your power. Then you’re sitting in the dark. And I see that happening. And I think for a lot of other people, it’s gonna happen too,” Michalski said.
Dollar General store manager Ashley Nicole Dixon also shared utility bills totaling more than $5,000 from 2025 with PBS reporters. Dixon said she had no option but to pay these high costs: “I have no choice. It has to be paid. And that’s what makes me sick because now I’m going to have to go … take more money out of my savings account just to keep the lights on.”
According to data cited by PBS from the Labor Department’s Consumer Price Index, electricity prices increased nearly five percent in February while natural gas rose almost eleven percent before recent global events impacted energy markets further.
PBS described multiple factors contributing to these price hikes, including federal requirements keeping unprofitable coal-powered plants open and increased demand from data centers using large amounts of power.
With continued uncertainty over future prices following international conflicts and policy decisions, many West Virginians face difficult choices about how they will afford essential services.
