The Sconi

For many states, this summer has brought extremely high temperatures, requiring households to constantly run their air conditioning in order to keep cool.

Wisconsin in particular has seen extreme heat remaining in the 90s. With the increased need for cool air, businesses and households have had to deal with an important effect of aggressive inflation: high electric bills—yet another increased cost that many blame on President Joe Biden.

"National electricity rates are through the roof under President Biden's failed leadership," Jonathan Lockwood, a Republican political consultant, told The Sconi recently. "Energy costs are disproportionately hurting families, workers and lower-income Americans who are struggling to rebuild their lives and livelihoods post-pandemic. Energy rates are the highest they've ever been in American history and the Democrats are doing everything in their power to strangle our energy portfolio."

The results will be felt in November, Lockwood noted.

"The Democrats can’t count on moderate Republicans and disaffected Democrats and Independents voting Democrat just because they did in 2020," he said.

As of July, the average residential electricity rate in the U.S. was 14.77 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), and for businesses the average was 11.92 cents per kWh; data from SaveOnEnergy.com showed. As of April, the average rate in Wisconsin was 15.37 cents per kWh, up 5.1% from a year ago.

In September of 2021 and 2020, respectively, Wisconsin residents were paying an average of 14.28 cents per kWh and 15.05 cents per kWh, representing a 5.1% year-over-year decrease; data from electricchoice.com said.

Wisconsin has seen numerous days with extreme heat this July, but the worst is yet to come; a recent WMTV news report said. The first week of August is expected to bring heat indexes in the triple digits.

Using data from their latest Electric Power Monthly report, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) stated that in 2021, the average nominal retail electricity price paid by U.S. residential electric customers rose at the fastest rate since 2008, increasing 4.3% from 2020 to 13.72 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

In a recent national poll distributed by the Senate Opportunity Fund (SOF), 58% of Americans said they blame Biden for inflation. This includes nearly half (48%) of moderate voters and 30% of Democrats. The SOF poll was conducted July 5-7, and it surveyed 800 general election likely voters on a national scale.

As of 2022, the percentage of people in Wisconsin living in poverty is 10.77%, or 639,160 residents; World Population Review said.