Negative electricity prices are increasing in parts of Europe while U.S. household bills rise

Wholesale electricity prices in parts of Europe have turned negative more often as renewable capacity has grown, and EU household electricity costs were down about 1.5% in the first half of the year; by contrast, U.S. household electricity prices showed a year-over-year rise of about 6.9% in November.

Electricity supply in parts of Europe has been outpacing demand at times as renewable generation expanded, and that has made negative wholesale prices more common. Spain's installed solar capacity rose substantially from early 2020 to early 2025. In the United States, household electricity costs have been climbing and were higher year over year in recent data. Key developments: - Wholesale electricity prices in parts of Europe have fallen below zero more often as solar and wind capacity increased. - European Union household electricity prices were reported down about 1.5% in the first half of the year compared with the first half of 2024. - U.S. household electricity prices were reported up about 6.9% year over year in November. Summary: These developments show divergent regional trends: surplus renewable generation has pushed some European wholesale prices negative while reported household electricity costs in the EU eased slightly, and U.S. household electricity costs have risen recently. Undetermined at this time.