During former President Donald Trump’s recent visit to a New York City barbershop, the store’s owner raised concerns about increases in electricity costs, stating that his monthly energy bills had skyrocketed from $2,100 to $15,000 since the Biden administration took office. While electricity prices in New York have gone up since Trump left the White House, some have questioned the accuracy of a more than 600% hike in energy expenses.
Back in 2020, the average retail price of electricity for commercial use in New York state was approximately 15 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh). Today, the average has risen to around 21 cents per kWh, which is 51% higher than the national average.
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Calculations based on 2020 electricity prices suggest that the barbershop would have been using approximately 14,000 kWh annually—consistent with the average consumption for a small business with around 11 employees, which stands at 15,000 kWh.
If the current $15,000 energy bill is accurate, this would imply a significant increase in electricity usage, reaching around 71,400 kWh per year. This level of a power consumption increase would be equivalent to adding the annual energy needs of more than five typical households.
Assuming the barbershop’s energy consumption rate has remained consistent since 2020, the estimated total annual cost today should be closer to $3,000, reflecting higher rates that could strain the average American’s bottom line, but not to the extent claimed.
Tags: Donald Trump, Economy, Energy, Joe Biden, New York, New York City, small business, U.S. Economy, U.S. Energy Department
[Shop Owner]
“My issue was more of the energy I’ve been paying $2,100 since I first opened up. In the last seven months, it shot up to $15,000.”
“What?”
[Jack Aylmer]
DURING FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP’S VISIT TO A NEW YORK CITY BABERSHOP THIS WEEK, THE STORE’S OWNER CLAIMED TO HAVE SEEN A MORE THAN 600 PERCENT JUMP IN THEIR POWER BILLS SINCE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TOOK OVER.
“You went from $2,100 …?”
“To $15,000.”
NOW, THIS NEW YORK LOCAL IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT THAT ENERGY PRICES HAVE INCREASED IN THE STATE SINCE 20-20 WHEN TRUMP LEFT OFFICE.
BACK THEN, THE AVERAGE MONTHLY RETAIL PRICE OF ELECTRICITY FOR NY COMMERCIAL USE WAS ABOUT 15 CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR-
BUT TODAY, ITS JUMPED TO AROUND 21 CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR-
51 PERCENT HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
SO, WHILE ENERGY COSTS IN NEW YORK DID INCREASE DURING THE LAST FOUR YEARS-
IS THAT MASSIVE FIFTEEN-THOUSAND DOLLAR ENERGY BILL ALSO TRUE?
WELL, WE CAN FIGURE BASED ON 2020-PRICES THAT THE BARBERSHOP WAS USING AROUND 14,000 KILOWATT HOURS EVERY YEAR-
ABOUT IN LINE WITH THE AVERAGE ELECTRIC CONSUMPTION OF 15,000 KILOWATT HOURS FOR A SMALL BUSINESS WITH 11 EMPLOYEES.
HOWEVER, IF WE RUN THE SAME MATH ON THAT 15,000 DOLLAR TOTAL-
THAT WOULD MEAN THE BARBERSHOP WAS CONSUMING ABOUT 71,400 KILOWATT HOURS EVERY YEAR.
WHICH WOULD MEAN A FOUR YEAR JUMP IN ENERGY USAGE EQUIVALENT TO THE NEEDS OF MORE THAN FIVE AVERAGE HOMES.
ASSUMING THE BARBERSHOP IS STILL CONSUMING THE SAME AMOUNT OF POWER IT WAS BACK IN 20-20-
THEIR TOTAL ANNUAL BILL SHOULD BE CLOSER TO AROUND 3,000 DOLLARS.
HAVING TO SPEND ALMOST A THOUSAND MORE DOLLARS ON AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE LIKE ELECTRICITY WILL STILL DEFINITELY STRAIN THE BOTTOM LINES OF MANY AMERICANS-
ALTHOUGH RISING ENERGY COSTS LIKELY DID NOT DRIVE AS BIG OF AN EXPENSE INCREASE AS WAS CLAIMED HERE.
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