Question

Claim: Energy costs are at the highest level in 15 years.

Answer 1

The claim above is true that energy costs have increased. In a personal level I can agree with the claim by comparing what I paid electricity the earlier months on the year in comparison to the end of the year for 2022. Talking around with friends who also rent, they have had the same issue, going from paying at most $200 to and increase of paying close to $500 in a couples months span. In an article by utility dive, it mentioned how the cause of inflation and the Ukraine and Russia war have been factors that have causes the increase in electricity prices and increased prices overall for everything. The article also mentioned how "consumers paid 14.3% more for electricity last year on average, then in 2021". 

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/electricity-prices-inflation-consumer-price-index/640656/

Comments

It's great to add personal experience as well as well-sourced data and information. Don't forget to add a rating going forward when fact-checking (true, false, misleading, etc.)

Answer 2

The claim above about energy cost IS PARTICALLY true. The energy/electricity on average has been relatively low, since an exponential peak in 2006, according to Statista. This being said, the U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS published data matching these claims. However, due to a lack of data in 2023, as the year is not complete, it is hard to know if this will remain a fact. But, as of now. Yes, 2022 was the highest energy costs the country has experienced in the past fifteen years.

https://www.bls.gov/regions/midwest/data/averageenergyprices_selectedareas_table.htm

https://www.statista.com/statistics/201714/growth-in-us-residential-electricity-prices-since-2000/

Comments

Your rating is exaggerated/misleading. However, I'm curious to know what's misleading. From your explanation and sources, it appears that the claim is true if you are looking at 2022 and the past 15 years. Also, PolitiFact conducted a fact-check on the topic and came to a similar conclusion that the claim is mostly true.

Answer 3

The claim above is mostly true. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) has data on energy costs. The average 2022-2023 energy costs are higher than they have been in the past 15 years. However, because it is still early in the year, this claim was based on these forecasts. In 2007-2008, the average energy costs were $939. The updated February 2023 forecast is $1,371, which exceeds the cost 15 years ago. This also exceeds the amount of previous years, as shown by the EIA. This supports the claim. Because there is  data for 2022 but a lack of data for 2023, I would say that this claim is mostly true/exaggerated.

EIA Data: https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/steo/report/winterfuels.php