Charles Hua
@charlesxhua.bsky.social
founder @PowerLines.org, working to lower utility bills and grow our economy by modernizing state public utilities commissions (PUCs)
Rising energy costs aren’t the result of scarcity — they are a deliberate policy choice. Here are some ideas on how to lower costs from PowerLines @charlesxhua.bsky.social: open.substack.com/pub/statesfo...
Move Over, Eggs — The Politics of Electricity Are Here
How energy prices motivated change in this year’s elections
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Reposted by Charles Hua
Since the new @iea.org modeling is being talked about, I thought I’d post the paper I wrote with @charlesxhua.bsky.social on “how energy modeling works.”
Enjoy the aphorisms, like “if you torture your model long enough, it will confess to anything.”
www.cesa.org/resource-lib...
Enjoy the aphorisms, like “if you torture your model long enough, it will confess to anything.”
www.cesa.org/resource-lib...
How Energy Modeling Works: The Uses and Limitations of Energy Modeling for Decarbonization Planning - Clean Energy States Alliance
Energy modeling—using computer software and mathematical equations to simulate the operation and growth of energy systems—can be a powerful tool for state decarbonization planning. But because modelin...
www.cesa.org
November 12, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Since the new @iea.org modeling is being talked about, I thought I’d post the paper I wrote with @charlesxhua.bsky.social on “how energy modeling works.”
Enjoy the aphorisms, like “if you torture your model long enough, it will confess to anything.”
www.cesa.org/resource-lib...
Enjoy the aphorisms, like “if you torture your model long enough, it will confess to anything.”
www.cesa.org/resource-lib...
Electricity is reshaping our politics. But governing on actually lowering utility bills will not be simple—it will require centering consumers, getting more out of our grid, and creating utility affordability action plans.
www.theverge.com/report/81694...
www.theverge.com/report/81694...
Soaring electricity rates fueled Democratic victories — now comes the hard part
Democrats promised to lower utility bills. What will it take to follow through?
www.theverge.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Electricity is reshaping our politics. But governing on actually lowering utility bills will not be simple—it will require centering consumers, getting more out of our grid, and creating utility affordability action plans.
www.theverge.com/report/81694...
www.theverge.com/report/81694...
Tuesday was historic for Georgia:
"The election of two new Public Service Commissioners represents a seismic change in Georgia's energy landscape and reflects a new politics of electricity in America," said Charles Hua, Founder & Executive Director of @powerlines.org
heatmap.news/politics/ali...
"The election of two new Public Service Commissioners represents a seismic change in Georgia's energy landscape and reflects a new politics of electricity in America," said Charles Hua, Founder & Executive Director of @powerlines.org
heatmap.news/politics/ali...
Democrats Win 2 Key Energy Races in Georgia
A “seismic change” comes for the state’s Public Service Commission.
heatmap.news
November 6, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Tuesday was historic for Georgia:
"The election of two new Public Service Commissioners represents a seismic change in Georgia's energy landscape and reflects a new politics of electricity in America," said Charles Hua, Founder & Executive Director of @powerlines.org
heatmap.news/politics/ali...
"The election of two new Public Service Commissioners represents a seismic change in Georgia's energy landscape and reflects a new politics of electricity in America," said Charles Hua, Founder & Executive Director of @powerlines.org
heatmap.news/politics/ali...
Today, nearly 8 million Georgian voters will have the opportunity to vote for the Public Service Commissioners that set their utility bills.
“Utility bills in Georgia are literally on the ballot,” says @charlesxhua.bsky.social
www.canarymedia.com/articles/uti...
“Utility bills in Georgia are literally on the ballot,” says @charlesxhua.bsky.social
www.canarymedia.com/articles/uti...
Energy bills are rising nationwide. In Georgia, they’re on the ballot.
Critics claim the state's utility regulator is too passive. Two Democratic challengers say they’ll change that — and push for more cheap, clean energy.
www.canarymedia.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Today, nearly 8 million Georgian voters will have the opportunity to vote for the Public Service Commissioners that set their utility bills.
“Utility bills in Georgia are literally on the ballot,” says @charlesxhua.bsky.social
www.canarymedia.com/articles/uti...
“Utility bills in Georgia are literally on the ballot,” says @charlesxhua.bsky.social
www.canarymedia.com/articles/uti...
💡 @powerlines.org in @nytimes.com:
“When you look at what’s driving electricity bills, it’s really poles and wires,” said Charles Hua, the founder of PowerLines, a nonprofit organization focused on modernizing utility regulations to cut power bills.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/c...
“When you look at what’s driving electricity bills, it’s really poles and wires,” said Charles Hua, the founder of PowerLines, a nonprofit organization focused on modernizing utility regulations to cut power bills.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/c...
Why the Price of Electricity Is Spiking Around the Country
www.nytimes.com
October 30, 2025 at 6:22 PM
💡 @powerlines.org in @nytimes.com:
“When you look at what’s driving electricity bills, it’s really poles and wires,” said Charles Hua, the founder of PowerLines, a nonprofit organization focused on modernizing utility regulations to cut power bills.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/c...
“When you look at what’s driving electricity bills, it’s really poles and wires,” said Charles Hua, the founder of PowerLines, a nonprofit organization focused on modernizing utility regulations to cut power bills.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/c...
Honored to make my broadcast TV debut and represent @powerlines.org on @cbsnews.com.web.brid.gy to talk rising utility bills—why they’re going up, who sets them, and what consumers can do.
September 8, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Honored to make my broadcast TV debut and represent @powerlines.org on @cbsnews.com.web.brid.gy to talk rising utility bills—why they’re going up, who sets them, and what consumers can do.
For the first time in 5 years, #utilitybills are on the ballot in Georgia. And rising utility bills is increasingly becoming a defining political issue, on top of being a defining economic issue. I was honored to share my perspectives in @TIME:
time.com/7311613/ai-e...
time.com/7311613/ai-e...
Backlash to High Electric Bills Could Transform U.S. Politics
Across the U.S., electricity bills are on the rise thanks, in part, to AI data centers. Voters aren't happy about it.
time.com
August 28, 2025 at 5:27 PM
For the first time in 5 years, #utilitybills are on the ballot in Georgia. And rising utility bills is increasingly becoming a defining political issue, on top of being a defining economic issue. I was honored to share my perspectives in @TIME:
time.com/7311613/ai-e...
time.com/7311613/ai-e...
Have nothing better to do this morning than hear why electricity prices are rising? Come hear @robinsonmeyer.bsky.social and I talk on @npr.org about who actually sets your #utilitybills, why they’re going up, and what you can do about it.
www.npr.org/podcasts/510...
www.npr.org/podcasts/510...
1A
Listening to the news can feel like a journey. But 1A guides you beyond the headlines – and cuts through the noise. Let's get to the heart of the story, together – on 1A.Support NPR and get your news ...
www.npr.org
August 20, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Have nothing better to do this morning than hear why electricity prices are rising? Come hear @robinsonmeyer.bsky.social and I talk on @npr.org about who actually sets your #utilitybills, why they’re going up, and what you can do about it.
www.npr.org/podcasts/510...
www.npr.org/podcasts/510...
Reposted by Charles Hua
Can low energy prices and lots of data centers coexist? Load flexibility could be the answer. More from @zeitlin.bsky.social below, feat. @charlesxhua.bsky.social and @tnorris.bsky.social.
One Weird Trick to Build New Data Centers Without Breaking the Grid
Tech companies, developers, and banks are converging behind “flexible loads.”
heatmap.news
August 14, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Can low energy prices and lots of data centers coexist? Load flexibility could be the answer. More from @zeitlin.bsky.social below, feat. @charlesxhua.bsky.social and @tnorris.bsky.social.
Thanks to @alexckaufman.bsky.social @latitudemedia.bsky.social for this great piece on risks of rising utility bills.
“We’re playing with fire to test the limits of that right now, which is very much happening with a record year of rate increases,” Hua said.
www.latitudemedia.com/news/are-we-...
“We’re playing with fire to test the limits of that right now, which is very much happening with a record year of rate increases,” Hua said.
www.latitudemedia.com/news/are-we-...
Are we entering a ‘golden age of utilities’?
Electric utilities had a booming last quarter, but big challenges remain.
www.latitudemedia.com
August 12, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Thanks to @alexckaufman.bsky.social @latitudemedia.bsky.social for this great piece on risks of rising utility bills.
“We’re playing with fire to test the limits of that right now, which is very much happening with a record year of rate increases,” Hua said.
www.latitudemedia.com/news/are-we-...
“We’re playing with fire to test the limits of that right now, which is very much happening with a record year of rate increases,” Hua said.
www.latitudemedia.com/news/are-we-...
Proud that our work @powerlines.org to analyze how rising utility bills are impacting American energy consumers is featured in this new TIME article on why our #utilitybills are so high:
time.com/7306045/ener...
time.com/7306045/ener...
Why Your Energy Bill Is So High
With increased demand overwhelming the grid and climate change driving record heat, Americans' energy bills keep rising.
time.com
July 29, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Proud that our work @powerlines.org to analyze how rising utility bills are impacting American energy consumers is featured in this new TIME article on why our #utilitybills are so high:
time.com/7306045/ener...
time.com/7306045/ener...
Thanks to @alexckaufman.bsky.social for a great piece in @mittechreviewbr.bsky.social on how CA is deploying AI for grid and for ft. our perspectives @powerlines.org.
As JFK once said, ask not what the grid can do for AI, but what AI can do for the grid:
www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/14/1...
As JFK once said, ask not what the grid can do for AI, but what AI can do for the grid:
www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/14/1...
California is set to become the first US state to manage power outages with AI
The software uses generative AI to analyze and carry out real-time analyses for grid operators.
www.technologyreview.com
July 19, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Thanks to @alexckaufman.bsky.social for a great piece in @mittechreviewbr.bsky.social on how CA is deploying AI for grid and for ft. our perspectives @powerlines.org.
As JFK once said, ask not what the grid can do for AI, but what AI can do for the grid:
www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/14/1...
As JFK once said, ask not what the grid can do for AI, but what AI can do for the grid:
www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/14/1...
Cool to see @powerlines.org debut on broadcast TV on @cbsnews.com, which highlighted our report on 2025 utility rate increases, which have increased 2.5x over the same time period last year.
This issue is becoming mainstream, and it’s not going away.
#utilitybills
This issue is becoming mainstream, and it’s not going away.
#utilitybills
July 14, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Cool to see @powerlines.org debut on broadcast TV on @cbsnews.com, which highlighted our report on 2025 utility rate increases, which have increased 2.5x over the same time period last year.
This issue is becoming mainstream, and it’s not going away.
#utilitybills
This issue is becoming mainstream, and it’s not going away.
#utilitybills
And now @powerlines.org’ debut in @bloomberglp.bsky.social on a record year for utility rate increases at $29B with 6 months left to go:
#utilitybills #energyaffordability
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
#utilitybills #energyaffordability
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
July 11, 2025 at 4:24 PM
And now @powerlines.org’ debut in @bloomberglp.bsky.social on a record year for utility rate increases at $29B with 6 months left to go:
#utilitybills #energyaffordability
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
#utilitybills #energyaffordability
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
@powerlines.org debuted in @financialtimes.com this AM in a piece that highlights our Q2 2025 report showing that utility rate increases in the first half of 2025 already surpass all of 2024, already a record year. #utilitybills are rising, and #consumers are concerned: www.ft.com/content/c5f2...
US utilities plot big rise in electricity rates as data centre demand booms
Customers face higher bills to upgrade infrastructure needed to power AI systems
www.ft.com
July 10, 2025 at 3:14 PM
@powerlines.org debuted in @financialtimes.com this AM in a piece that highlights our Q2 2025 report showing that utility rate increases in the first half of 2025 already surpass all of 2024, already a record year. #utilitybills are rising, and #consumers are concerned: www.ft.com/content/c5f2...
Never did I think our work at @powerlines.org would be featured in a story that made it into A1 of @nytimes.com. Goes to show how important the story of rising #utilitybills and the role of #publicservicecommissions is!
June 17, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Never did I think our work at @powerlines.org would be featured in a story that made it into A1 of @nytimes.com. Goes to show how important the story of rising #utilitybills and the role of #publicservicecommissions is!
Utility bills in Georgia have increased 33% in the last 2 years—an annual increase of $500 per consumer. Yet, very few people know the body that determines how much people pay—the Public Service Commission. Thanks to @nytimes.com for featuring @powerlines.org’ work!
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/15/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/15/u...
Power Bills Are Squeezing Georgians. Voters Could Do Something About It.
www.nytimes.com
June 16, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Utility bills in Georgia have increased 33% in the last 2 years—an annual increase of $500 per consumer. Yet, very few people know the body that determines how much people pay—the Public Service Commission. Thanks to @nytimes.com for featuring @powerlines.org’ work!
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/15/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/15/u...
Reposted by Charles Hua
📢 PowerLines’ @charlesxhua.bsky.social Hua spoke with @denvergazette.com about rising electricity prices in the US.
#UtilityBills #EnergyCosts
#UtilityBills #EnergyCosts
Poll: Colorado residents paying 24% more for electricity
Coloradans are paying 24% more for residential electricity than they were in 2021, and energy costs continue to rise by 1.1% per month, say energy experts.
denvergazette.com
June 9, 2025 at 6:53 PM
📢 PowerLines’ @charlesxhua.bsky.social Hua spoke with @denvergazette.com about rising electricity prices in the US.
#UtilityBills #EnergyCosts
#UtilityBills #EnergyCosts
Honored to debut in @nytimes.com:
“We’re facing a huge affordability crisis in America,” said Charles Hua, a former Energy Department adviser who recently founded @powerlines.org “This issue is not going away.”
#utilitybills #energyaffordability
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/04/c...
“We’re facing a huge affordability crisis in America,” said Charles Hua, a former Energy Department adviser who recently founded @powerlines.org “This issue is not going away.”
#utilitybills #energyaffordability
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/04/c...
Electricity Prices Are Surging. The G.O.P. Megabill Could Push Them Higher.
www.nytimes.com
June 4, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Honored to debut in @nytimes.com:
“We’re facing a huge affordability crisis in America,” said Charles Hua, a former Energy Department adviser who recently founded @powerlines.org “This issue is not going away.”
#utilitybills #energyaffordability
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/04/c...
“We’re facing a huge affordability crisis in America,” said Charles Hua, a former Energy Department adviser who recently founded @powerlines.org “This issue is not going away.”
#utilitybills #energyaffordability
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/04/c...
Reposted by Charles Hua
PowerLines’ @charlesxhua.bsky.social spoke with @elisawood.bsky.social about the need for public engagement in utility regulation to deal with rising energy costs.
🎧 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/u...
#UtilityBills #EnergyCosts
🎧 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/u...
#UtilityBills #EnergyCosts
US Political Parties Agree on One Thing: Utility Bills
Podcast Episode · Energy Changemakers Podcast · 04/23/2025 · 29m
podcasts.apple.com
May 27, 2025 at 3:33 PM
PowerLines’ @charlesxhua.bsky.social spoke with @elisawood.bsky.social about the need for public engagement in utility regulation to deal with rising energy costs.
🎧 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/u...
#UtilityBills #EnergyCosts
🎧 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/u...
#UtilityBills #EnergyCosts
Reposted by Charles Hua
Hey, speaking of the importance of public utility regulators: here's a jobs board showing all the PUC positions open across the country. There's no better place to leverage positive change. We badly need good people in these spots! Tell your energy nerd friends to apply!
We’re proud to announce @powerlines.org’s PUC Jobs Board to connect energy professionals with state public utilities commissions (PUCs). We need talented, passionate, thoughtful, motivated, selfless people in the bodies that oversee $200B in utility spending each year! powerlines.org/powerlines-l...
May 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Hey, speaking of the importance of public utility regulators: here's a jobs board showing all the PUC positions open across the country. There's no better place to leverage positive change. We badly need good people in these spots! Tell your energy nerd friends to apply!
We’re proud to announce @powerlines.org’s PUC Jobs Board to connect energy professionals with state public utilities commissions (PUCs). We need talented, passionate, thoughtful, motivated, selfless people in the bodies that oversee $200B in utility spending each year! powerlines.org/powerlines-l...
May 15, 2025 at 5:31 PM
We’re proud to announce @powerlines.org’s PUC Jobs Board to connect energy professionals with state public utilities commissions (PUCs). We need talented, passionate, thoughtful, motivated, selfless people in the bodies that oversee $200B in utility spending each year! powerlines.org/powerlines-l...
There’s no place that will have more impact on the future of our energy system over the next 5 years than at state public utilities commissions (#PUCs). Get in while you can. www.utilitydive.com/news/doe-ene...
Thousands of energy experts are leaving federal government. Here’s where they should go.
State PUCs desperately need skilled energy professionals to advance economic development, energy affordability and national security goals.
www.utilitydive.com
May 14, 2025 at 3:16 PM
There’s no place that will have more impact on the future of our energy system over the next 5 years than at state public utilities commissions (#PUCs). Get in while you can. www.utilitydive.com/news/doe-ene...
This was fun!
I got to be on a fun panel talking about AI, energy, climate at the Federation of American Scientists headquarters on Wednesday during DC Climate Week, and they made this neat graphic from the event.
May 12, 2025 at 1:00 PM
This was fun!