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NOAA just confirmed it: March 2026 was the hottest March in U.S. history — and it wasn't close. The first time any month has exceeded the long-term average by more than 9°F. Ten states broke their all-time March records. Phoenix hit 100°F nine days in a single month that's supposed to be spring.
Meanwhile, 60% of the country is in drought. The western snowpack has melted weeks ahead of schedule. Wildfire acreage in 2026 is already 231% of the 10-year average. And electricity prices are up 5-9% nationally — outpacing inflation for the fourth straight year.
We're heading into what could be one of the most expensive and dangerous summers in recent memory.
For utility customers, two things are about to collide:
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Rising cooling costs as energy bills climb and heat intensifies
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Growing demand for air purification as wildfire smoke becomes a seasonal reality
This is exactly when utility energy efficiency programs matter most — and where the right marketplace infrastructure makes a real difference.
When the heat hits or the smoke rolls in, customers need efficient cooling and air purification now — not a rebate application and a weeks-long approval process.
Here's something program managers should be thinking about right now: supply chain. When a heat wave hits and demand spikes, inventory disappears fast. The utilities that have efficient product inventory secured and fulfillment infrastructure in place before summer will be the ones that can actually deliver for their customers. The ones that wait until July to react will be competing for limited manufacturer allocation with long lead times — exactly when their customers need help most.
The summer of 2026 is going to be a stress test for utility programs. The ones designed for urgency will pass it. Now is the time to prepare.
Source: NOAA National Climate Report, April 2026. This is what we're focused on at Enervee — building the infrastructure utilities need to reach customers when it matters most. enervee.com/utilities