HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — As the artificial intelligence sector experiences rapid growth, several states are witnessing disputes over the increasing profits of utility companies. Governors, attorneys general, and concerned parties argue that financially strained residents are being unfairly burdened by higher electricity costs, highlighting a flawed system.

In response, officials and legislators in at least six states—Arizona, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania—are actively working to thwart proposed utility rate hikes. Some are advocating for a complete overhaul of the financing model utilities use for significant system enhancements.

This movement coincides with a midterm election year, where Democrats are emphasizing affordability as a key issue in their efforts to challenge the Republican stronghold in Washington.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat campaigning for reelection, is contesting two proposed utility rate increases before the state’s utility regulatory commission.

“Now more than ever, it is crucial to oppose the blatant corporate greed exhibited by Arizona’s monopoly utilities,” Mayes stated in a recent interview.

The fights are getting noticed on Wall Street

The voracious energy demands of AI data centers have driven up electric prices in some regions and launched a moneymaking energy-sector construction boom.

For years, consumer advocates have tried to challenge the size of a utility’s investment return in front of regulators. But maybe not like this, consumer advocates say.

“We’ve entered into this era of expensive energy and (demand) growth, and we’re seeing utility profits at record highs and rising utility bills,” said Matt Kasper of the Energy and Policy Institute, which pushes utilities to keep rates low and use renewable energy sources.

Utilities were long viewed as a stable haven for investors, with a reliable source of income and predictable demand. Because of that lower risk, the utility’s sector investment returns are typically on the low end compared to other sectors, analysts say.

However, utilities — many of which are owned by multibillion-dollar, for-profit parent companies — have seen share prices perform particularly well during the data center expansion.

The investment returns that utilities get from regulators aren’t the sole reason consumers’ bills are rising, but researchers suggest they are a contributing factor. In March, the Energy and Policy Institute issued a report that said the profits of 110 for-profit utilities rose from just under $39 billion in 2021 to over $52 billion in 2024.

Mark Ellis, a former utility executive-turned-consumer advocate, said about 10% of the typical customer bill is what he called a for-profit utility’s “excess profit,” above what might be considered reasonable under long-standing Supreme Court precedent.

Instead of regulators setting returns above what the market might require, utilities should instead shop for the lowest-cost investor cash, much like someone might shop for the lowest interest rate on a loan, Ellis said.

Paul Ferraro, an economics professor at Johns Hopkins University, said that targeting utility investment returns is a political action, not an economic action.

“That’s an action that’s aiming to address the deep social disagreements we have about who should benefit from essential infrastructure,” Ferraro said. “But it’s not going to address the key challenges that the electricity sector is facing.”

That includes investment in modernization, expansion, renewable energies and distributed sources of power, Ferraro said.

‘Affordability’ has reached corporate earnings calls

Travis Miller, an energy and utilities analyst for Morningstar, said utility executives on earnings calls are emphasizing efforts to cut costs or protect residential customers from the cost to supply electricity to data centers.

“Affordability is probably the number one issue that executives and investors are thinking about right now in the utility sector,” Miller said.

If rates aren’t affordable currently, there’s no way that utilities can get the rate increases they need to boost earnings and dividends for investors, Miller said.

Utilities point to federal data showing that home electricity bills as a proportion of household income have fallen in the past couple decades. They defend the investment returns they are granted by state regulators as critical to raising the cash they need to appropriately maintain electric grids and ensure reliability for millions of people.

They also warn that investors will simply send their cash to utilities in other states that promise higher returns.

Critics call that fearmongering.

Earlier this month, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities launched what its president, Christine Guhl Sadovy, called one of the most consequential regulatory reviews in a generation, to question how utilities “should earn revenue in a modern energy system.”

In recent weeks, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro pressured PECO, the Philadelphia-area utility subsidiary of Exelon Corp., to withdraw a 12.5% rate increase, or $20 per month extra for the average residential customer. Shapiro, a Democrat running for reelection this year, then issued a letter to utility executives, taking a whack at utility profits and saying that the “20th century utility model is broken.”

“We can no longer simply prioritize corporate profitability to drive infrastructure development,” Shapiro wrote.

In a note to investors, one analyst called it “Quaker State Sticker Shock,” and the share prices of companies that own Pennsylvania-based utilities lagged their peers in the following days.

For its part, Exelon — the Chicago-based parent of Commonwealth Edison, PECO, Baltimore Gas and Electric and several other utilities — emphasized that it recognizes the importance of affordability.

Calvin Butler, Exelon’s president and CEO, told analysts on its first-quarter earnings call May 6 that it was committed to justifying what it spends and keeping energy bills as low as possible. Its decision to withdraw its rate increase request came after conversations with “stakeholders” who said, “Hey, if you could partner with us to address the affordability issue and lean in, timing is not the best right now,” Butler said.

In Indiana, Republican Gov. Mike Braun appointed a new slate of utility commissioners with a mission to face down rate increases.

Their first big test is a request by AES Indiana for a 10.1% increase, or $193 million a year more from ratepayers, said Ben Inskeep, program director for the Indianapolis-based consumer advocate Citizens Action Coalition.

As part of it, AES Indiana — whose parent company is being taken private in a $33.4 billion deal led by private investment giant BlackRock — sought a 10.7% return on its cash.

Inskeep said an 8% return — instead of 10.7% — would slash the proposed rate increase nearly in half.

In Arizona, Mayes is challenging a pair of 14% proposed increases that she said could be dramatically reduced if the companies are simply paid the cost to maintain reliable service.

“It’s becoming unbearable for the people in Arizona,” Mayes said. “And I think we have to fight back.”

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In a dramatic yet brief return to the boxing arena, Gina Carano, the boxer-turned-actor, found herself yearning for more than just a fleeting 17-second match. Her comeback bout against Ronda Rousey on Saturday night in Inglewood, California, hardly gave her the time she had hoped for.

“I was so ready, I felt so good,” Carano, now 44, expressed during a post-fight interview inside the ring, as reported by AFP. “I wanted it to last longer. But after being away for 17 years, just stepping into the cage was a victory in itself. Facing a legend was a victory. I feel great, but I wanted to fight, and I didn’t get to do that.”

Both Carano and Rousey had been on lengthy hiatuses from the MMA scene, with Rousey absent for nearly a decade. Yet, they both returned to headline a much-anticipated event broadcast on Netflix.

The fight, however, was brief. Mere moments after the bell, Rousey executed her renowned armbar technique, compelling Carano to tap out and conclude the match. This marked Carano’s first fight since her loss to Cris Cyborg by TKO in August 2009, which had prompted her retirement.

She delivered her signature armbar move, forcing Carano — whose last fight occurred in August 2009, when she lost to Cris Cyborg by TKO and retired — to tap and signal the end of the fight.

“You changed my world and we changed the world,” Rousey told Carano during an interview in the ring following the fight, according to USA Today. “And I will never, ever forget. I will never be able to pay you back enough. But  I’m so glad we got to share this moment.”

Carano shifted into acting following her retirement and launched that portion of her career with a role in “Haywire,” but she was fired from “The Mandalorian” in 2021 following controversial social media posts.

Saturday Night Live launched its 51st season with a daring cold open, featuring host Will Ferrell portraying the spectral return of Jeffrey Epstein, the notorious figure returning from beyond the grave to haunt Donald Trump.

The sketch started with cast member James Austin Johnson stepping into the role of the former president, sitting in the Oval Office before drifting into a slumber.

Emerging with grey hair and bound in chains, Ferrell took on the guise of the infamous Epstein, making a spectral appearance to surprise his “best friend” with an unexpected visit.

Johnson, mimicking Trump, expressed thrilled astonishment at the sight of Ferrell’s ghostly Epstein but pointed out a dip in his own political fortunes, mentioning his plummeting approval ratings, now in the 30s.

With a sardonic tone, Epstein quipped, “30s? Gross – let me know when it hits 17.”

‘It’s dark, very dark, dark situation. So what are you up to these days, Jeff? How’s heaven?’ the president asked, to which Epstein replied: ‘It’s really, really hot.’  

When asked about his summer plans, Johnson’s Trump said he would be at the World Cup, hosting the Patriot Games for American high schoolers and attending a UFC fight on the White House lawn like he’s ‘white trash on Worldstar.’ 

The president then asked Epstein’s ghost for a high five, which generated the sordid punch line, ‘You know what, this time, I’m going to leave you hanging,’ referencing the financier’s suicide in his jail cell. 

Will Ferrell hosted SNL’s 51st season finale on Saturday night, opening the show as Epstein’s ghost alongside James Austin Johnson’s Trump, pictured above 

In the skit, Epstein’s ghost showed Trump a series of fortunes for the future, including what is in store for his administration 

Colin Jost and Aziz Ansari portrayed Pete Hegseth and Kash Patel on a podcast smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol, pictured above 

Epstein’s ghost then revealed a series of ‘visions’ for the future of the Trump administration, which featured former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as a presenter on the Home Shopping Network and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth smoking marijuana on a podcast with FBI Director Kash Patel. 

The comedians referenced the Daily Mail’s exclusive on Noem’s husband cross-dressing as a ‘busty bimbo,’ setting up a line about how ‘crazy’ the Trump administration is. 

Colin Jost reprised his role as Pete Hegseth, portraying the secretary as a drunken frat boy alongside Aziz Ansari’s incompetent Kash Patel. 

Jost’s Hegseth said he was podcasting to promote his new ‘hard water’ product, ‘Poland Sprung.’ 

Epstein’s ghost had one last fortune to reveal – the US came in second after the war in Iran. 

Farrell then issued a blistering message to Trump, telling the president: ‘Donny, just remember: no matter how many wars you start, or how bad you tank the economy as a distraction, people will always associate you with me. And that, my dear friend, is a beautiful thing.’

The two then broke out into song, performing a duet of Bill Withers’ 1981 hit, Just the Two of Us. 

The skit left viewers in shock. Some fans found the humor in the dark opening, others claimed it was insensitive to Epstein’s real victims, while MAGA die-hards slammed the show for portraying Trump’s relationship with the infamous pedophile. 

The controversial skit generated mixed reactions from viewers

Cast member Ashley Padilla portrayed Kristi Noem as a presenter on the Home Shopping Network, pictured above 

The cold open slammed Trump for his reported friendship with disgraced pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The president is pictured above with Melania Trump, Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2000 

‘Nothing funny about Epstein ever,’ one viewer commented. 

‘I don’t know how to feel about this opening. I don’t wanna laugh in honor of the victims but also I wanna laugh cuz of Poland Sprung and the fact this will piss off people so much it will remind people to not stop talking about it,’ another added. 

‘SO brave… SO creative… SNL running on woke fantasy fumes in their season finale…’ wrote a third. 

However, some praised the cold open with one posting on X: ‘Donald Trump and Ghost of Jeffrey Epstein singing “just the two of us” was truly a laugh out loud moment.’ 

Trump and Epstein frequently crossed paths and reportedly had a close friendship in New York during the 90s and early 2000s. 

Trump has appeared thousands of times in the public files related to the Department of Justice’s investigation into Epstein’s sex crimes. 

The controversial cold open concluded SNL’s 51st season, which included a slew of skits skewering the Trump administration. 

Carlos Mendoza has a unique knack for finding the silver lining in even the most unpleasant situations. Known for turning the most dire circumstances into opportunities for optimism, he is a man who faces adversity with unwavering positivity and determination.

However, Friday night painted a different picture. Following the Mets’ defeat at the hands of the Yankees, compounded by the significant loss of Clay Holmes, Mendoza’s demeanor reflected a rare moment of despair. In his tenure with the Mets, he had never shown such a degree of despondency, as if he had finally met his match after enduring numerous setbacks.

“We all felt it. I’m not going to sugarcoat it: Last night was difficult,” Mendoza admitted before Saturday’s game against the Yankees. “This season has been tough on us with many of our star players out. But yesterday’s blow felt particularly heavy.”

The reason for this was the loss of Holmes, sidelined by a fractured fibula. Holmes had emerged as the standout performer in an otherwise lackluster season and was pivotal to the Mets’ hopes of clawing back to a competitive standing. Alongside Nolan McLean and Freddy Peralta, Holmes was part of a formidable trio in the rotation, offering a glimmer of hope for a potential winning streak—a lifeline to reignite the team’s playoff aspirations.

Did Queen Camilla once exhibit a royal snobbery towards the future queen, now adored by many?

A striking new royal exposé titled Kate alleges a definite “yes,” suggesting that Camilla initially looked down on the idea of Prince William marrying his university sweetheart.

According to author Christopher Andersen, Camilla was less than thrilled about the match, deeming Kate Middleton too ‘common’ for royalty due to her middle-class background.

Andersen writes that Camilla believed the future king should wed someone of royal descent or at least from the British aristocracy, rather than “a descendant of coal miners whose mother grew up in public housing and had once been a flight attendant.”

The Queen Consort allegedly harbored doubts about Kate’s suitability, concerned that her parents, former British Airways employees, particularly her mother Carole, were overly ambitious.

Takes one to know one, perhaps? Camilla was, at one time, the most famous side chick in modern history, best known – to most Americans, at least – for helping arrange and then dis-arrange the royal marriage between Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

Sure, maybe Kate’s not a descendent of one of Edward VII’s mistress (something Camilla is reportedly oddly proud of) but is that really brag worthy?

Was Queen Camilla once a royal snob to the now-beloved future queen?

Where I come from if a woman goes from a coal miner’s daughter to the founder of a party supply business and a self-made multimillionaire, we call that the ‘American Dream.’ And when that gal’s daughter ends up in Buckingham Palace that fairy tale is greenlit for a made-for-TV movie.

We’ve heard from other royal watchers that the Queen has a ‘ruthless streak,’ but this is downright cruel. And, if we’re honest, quite ironic.

It turns out that Kate’s been the best thing to happen to the royals since Megxit. And the rest of the fam haven’t exactly been draping themselves in glory recently.

Putting Prince Harry and the Harpy aside for a moment, there’s new reporting that Sarah Ferguson, formerly known as Duchess of York, was having extra-marital relations with none other than Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, who reportedly told sources over the years he was ‘slamming Sarah’ and couldn’t wait for her then-teenage daughters to come of age.

What’s worse, Feisty Fergie once took then 16-year-old Eugenie on one of Diddy’s yacht parties and we can’t forget her seemingly sycophantic obsession with child molester Jeffrey Epstein.

Ferguson’s representatives have denied that she had any relationship with Combs and no involvement in Epstein’s crimes.

Of course, there’s also Fergie’s doughy creeper husband, formerly known as Prince Andrew. King Charles stripped Andrew of his titles and booted him out of his state-funded lodgings in October – but, reports Andersen, it was Kate who was the first to block Uncle Andy from royal gatherings.

‘She is the first royal to cut him off, to turn her back on him,’ Andersen claimed, reporting she stopped Andrew from attending her Christmas concert at Westminster Abbey in 2021. Andrew allegedly tried to find a way in, but was reportedly told, ‘Nope, we don’t want your face on camera,’ says Andersen.

Seems like pretty clean judgment to me. Maybe being ‘common’ gives a person common sense. And this princess isn’t a snowflake, either.

The answer is a resounding, stomach-churning ‘yes’, according to a juicy new palace tell-all, titled Kate.

The snooty blue blood b.s. that Meghan would likely have attributed to racism, Kate faced down.

‘The press was vicious in England, portraying her family as a bunch of louts and criticizing Carole Middleton for doing such horrible things as chewing gum while she was quitting smoking,’ Andersen observed. And it couldn’t have been easy when Kate was labeled ‘Waity Katey’ during her nearly decade-long on-again/off-again courtship with her fancy fella.

She has persevered through cancer, surgery and chemo and still managed to shield her children, support her husband and return to royal duties with a smile and dainty wave.

No wonder people love her. A new YouGov.com poll shows Kate atop the royal family standings with a 75 percent approval rating. Her handsome prince is nipping her saintly heels at 74 percent, while Queen Camilla trails at 37 percent (just ahead of – you guessed it – Meghan).

Word is that Queen Camilla has warmed up to the mother of the future king after Kate’s cancer scare and, if that’s true, good for her.

I’ll take the classy commoner over the mudslinging snob any day of the week.

Ms Twiggy

Ariana Grande isn’t the only Incredible Shrinking Actress, Demi Moore is equally skeletal.

The Substance star’s noodle-thin arms inspired gasps and gags on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet this week.

Mercifully, Moore didn’t win a Palme d’Or. She probably couldn’t lift the damn thing!

Demi Moore’s noodle-thin arms inspired gasps and gags on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet this week

Creepy-Chic

Vapid celebrity has reached a new nadir as pop stars from Olivia Rodrigo to Maria Zardoya have begun touting around baby dolls modeled on themselves.

What happened to yappy little dogs in purses.

Nothing screams superstardom like self-obsession and never growing up.

Vapid celebrity has reached a new nadir as pop stars like Maria Zardoya have begun touting around baby dolls modeled on themselves

Prince of Snarkness

Ozzy Osbourne’s wife and son were ambushed by reporters outside the US Capitol on Friday and asked to opine on current events.

‘I think celebrities just need to keep their mouths shut… entertain the people. Shut the f*** up,’ replied Jack.

I’d vote for that.

Work hubby

Jenny from the Block was dressed for revenge at the premiere of her new romcom ‘Office Romance.’

And she was super handsy with giddy co-star Brett Goldstein, who has admitted having the hots for JLo for years.

Well, don’t be too excited, Goldie. Even if you do end up a couple, it won’t last past this surefire flop.

Jennifer Lopez was super handsy with giddy ‘Office Romance’ co-star Brett Goldstein, who has admitted having the hots for JLo for years

Signs of decline

Liza Minelli fans are reportedly spitting mad after ponying up $250 for premium signed copies of her memoir ‘Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!’

But hear this, the Queen of Broadway’s scribbles were allegedly written by machine.

Hey, Minelli, Joe Biden called, he wants his autopen back.

Prom bomb

I’ve heard of helicopter parenting, but this is ridiculous!

A suburban Illinois parks official hired a chopper to plop her daughter into a public park for a prom picture, procuring the bird without permission and allegedly putting people at risk.

The mom faces a fine of $200 but will face a judge. But I condemn her to a lifetime of being called an idiot.

A suburban Illinois parks official hired a chopper to plop her daughter (above) into a public park for a prom picture, procuring the bird without permission and allegedly putting people at risk

Swal-bad

Disgraced California Congressman Eric Swalwell quit the House and his gubernatorial run last month after a tsunami of sexual assault and harassment claims.

Now his long-suffering wife Brittany seems to be quitting as well. She was pictured out and about in Washington DC, sans wedding ring.

As for Icky Eric, he’s been completely MIA for more than a month. I doubt Brit cares.

Eric Swalwell’s long-suffering wife Brittany was pictured out and about in Washington DC, sans wedding ring

Baby bootcamp

Influencers have found a new scam – preparing aspiring moms for pregnancy. Think pelvic floor exercises, elite supplement stacks and punishing glute and thigh routines.

Want my advice? Set an alarm to wake up every 30 minutes while spending a month spent braless in steel wool and babbling incoherent nonsense.

Now, you’re ready.

A suspect is now in custody following a dramatic incident that unfolded on Saturday morning, where an attempted ATM theft turned into a high-speed chase down the Dan Ryan Expressway. Officials reported that during the chaos, the suspect struck a Cook County sheriff’s deputy with the deputy’s own squad car.

The chase began after four male suspects exited a dark-colored Jeep SUV and broke into a business on the 2800 block of West 55th Street in Chicago’s Gage Park neighborhood at approximately 7:15 a.m. According to Chicago police, the entire event was captured by security cameras.

Earlier that morning, another crime was caught on surveillance footage. Around 4:55 a.m., masked individuals were seen using an SUV to forcibly remove an ATM from a gas station located on the 7000 block of South Damen Avenue in West Englewood.

These incidents are part of at least two confirmed robberies reported by the Chicago Police Department on Saturday. The owner of the West Englewood gas station shared images showing the extent of the damage inflicted by the suspects.

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Attempts to pry open the ATM were thwarted, as captured by security cameras, while the store clerk remained behind the counter, alerting police to the unfolding crime.

After several minutes of trying, CPD said the offenders ran out of the store before fleeing in the Jeep, as police arrived on scene, leading to a chase.

The Jeep then crashed into another SUV in the Little Village neighborhood’s 3100-block of South California Avenue, CPD said. ABC7 cameras captured video of a damaged vehicle there.

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office said one of its deputies, who was patrolling the perimeter of the nearby Cook County Jail, stopped when he saw the scene of the crash around 7:30 a.m.

As the deputy got out of his squad car, he saw the four suspects flee the scene. One of them pushed past the deputy and jumped into his squad car, the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s office said the deputy tried to pull the suspect from his squad car, but the suspect drove away, hitting the deputy in the process. The injured deputy was taken to Saint Anthony Hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries and released.

CPD said the three other suspects were taken into custody near the crash scene, but the suspected squad car thief led Chicago police officers and Illinois State Police troopers on a chase down the Dan Ryan Expressway.

ISP deployed spike strips to stop the vehicle on the expressway near 78th Street in the Chatham neighborhood before 8:30 a.m. Police took the driver into custody.

No other injuries were reported, and Area One detectives are investigating. Police recovered three firearms.

Meanwhile, Chicago police are also investigating the nearby earlier ATM theft on South Damen Avenue in West Englewood.

Suspects broke in, took the ATM and got away in a Honda sedan and a Jeep SUV, Chicago police said.

No arrests have been made in connection to the West Englewood theft as CPD has not yet said if the ATM theft incidents were related.

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