Civic Power for Clean Energy: Protecting Families by Lowering Energy Costs

By Isabella Montealegre, Florida Environmental Organizer

As families across the country feel the pinch of rising energy bills, it is more important than ever to focus on solutions that work for communities, not just utilities. This week, as we observed International Clean Energy Day, we have the perfect opportunity to show how clean energy and accountable policymaking can protect families, lower costs, and build a more sustainable future.

Clean energy offers long-term solutions to reduce reliance on expensive and polluting power sources, but we also need immediate reforms to make electricity affordable today. Across the country, communities are organizing to reform state public service commissions, the agencies that set utility rates and oversee energy decisions. In Florida, where I am from, the Public Service Commission (PSC) plays a direct role in how much families pay for electricity, and current rate-making decisions are driving costs higher for everyday Floridians. Other states have similar agencies that impact households’ energy bills, and communities everywhere are feeling the effects of rising costs.

A PSC reform that centers on the needs of people would ensure that rate hikes do not disproportionately harm families who are most vulnerable to extreme weather or economic instability. This is not just about lowering bills. It is about protecting health, empowering communities, and giving families the tools to transition toward cleaner and more resilient energy sources. Every state can and should take steps to hold utilities and regulators accountable so that all families can benefit from affordable, sustainable energy.

Civic engagement is key. Families can make their voices heard by contacting state and local representatives and urging energy affordability to be a top policy priority. Leaders in every state should recognize that accessible, fair, and sustainable energy is a matter of economic and environmental justice. People across the U.S. can engage in PSC reform, energy-related elections, and advocacy in their own states. Our collective participation shapes a cleaner, more equitable energy future for everyone.

For the 2026 legislative session, Poder Latinx will join a coalition of organizations supporting bipartisan efforts to reform the Florida PSC. We urge everyone, in Florida and beyond, to contact your representatives, attend town halls, and participate in local and state elections to ensure energy decisions protect families and communities. Our voices and votes can hold policymakers and utilities accountable while building a cleaner, more affordable energy future nationwide.

Clean energy and smart policy go hand in hand. By organizing, advocating, and voting, people in Florida and across the country can help create systems that are fair, sustainable, and protective of families and the environment. Together, we can achieve a cleaner, more affordable energy future, not just for today, but for years to come.