Kimberly Adams

From American Public Media, this is Marketplace.

In Washington, I'm Kimberly Adams in for Kyra's doll.

In Washington, I'm Kimberly Adams in for Kyra's doll.

It's Thursday, January the 29th.

It's Thursday, January the 29th.

Good to have you along.

Good to have you along.

If you've noticed that your electric bill has been creeping up these past few years, you're in very good company.

If you've noticed that your electric bill has been creeping up these past few years, you're in very good company.

According to the nonprofit Power Lines, electric and gas utilities asked for permission to increase rates by $31 billion last year.

According to the nonprofit Power Lines, electric and gas utilities asked for permission to increase rates by $31 billion last year.

That's double what they asked for the year before.

That's double what they asked for the year before.

And in most cases, those rate increases were approved.

And in most cases, those rate increases were approved.

Marketplace's Sabree Beneshore takes a look at why this is happening.

Marketplace's Sabree Beneshore takes a look at why this is happening.

There's a bit of an upward trend in natural gas prices right now.

There's a bit of an upward trend in natural gas prices right now.

Wall Street today, not a great day for some tech stocks, just to put it mildly.