Here’s how much electricity prices have surged in parts of New England this winter: For some drivers of electric vehicles and hybrid cars, it’s now more expensive to charge up than to fill up.

Power rates across the region have jumped an average of 30% since last summer, while gasoline prices have receded well below their peak in June of 2022. Web engineer Matt Cain, who lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, said he ran a price comparison when his electricity bill shot up in January and found that his overall costs for utilities had climbed a whopping 50%. …

“We are in pretty much the same boat in [New Hampshire] and it sucks,” said another user. “Went from an average of $220 a month electric bill… to now close to $400 a month and thats with off peak charging, and its supposed to go up again significantly in February.” The rate hike pushed the user to sign up for a solar array, with a monthly bill around half their current power bill, the person added.

[Gee, I wish there was an economic principle that could explain what happens when you add demand while restricting supply, such as limiting coal and natural gas use for electricity generation. I’m sure it will come to me soon. — Ed]