Many Americans have been getting a break on their electricity bills during the recession, but they should not expect the relief to last long as power demand recovers and climate regulations loom.

Utilities in major markets like New York, Chicago and Texas lowered rates as the recession cut industrial and residential consumption and wholesale power costs during the first half of 2009 fell to the lowest levels in seven years.

An expected economic recovery in 2010 and federal green energy regulations could push costs up again quickly, analysts and power companies said.

“No one can expect demand and fuel costs to remain this low forever. Once the economy recovers, demand will start to rise and utilities will likely have to deal with new government mandates,” said Jim Owen of the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), an association of investor-owned electric companies.

Source/Full Story: Reuters

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