Total Energy News – September 2026

This month's roundup touches on fuel costs, electric vehicles, and a utility merger fight, along with several Vermont energy events.

A new estimate puts the cost of the recent Iran conflict at $100 billion in extra energy spending nationwide, working out to about $770 per household, with fuel prices expected to stay elevated for a while. Separately, a new study on electric vehicles found that switching from a gas car to an EV is a climate win in nearly all cases, even under assumptions designed to favor gas cars. A related data point from Vermont energy researchers illustrates the cost gap directly: $10 of gasoline at $3.59 a gallon covers about 65 miles, while $10 of electricity at the average residential rate covers 147 miles, and at a utility's special EV rate, 188 miles.

On the policy side, New England governors, including Vermont's, have come out against a proposed merger of NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy, which would create the largest regulated electric utility in the country. The outcome could affect how utilities in the region are run and regulated, though no direct impact on individual bills has been spelled out yet.

For Vermont homeowners, there are also several fall events worth knowing about, including free weatherization (sealing up drafts and insulating) and heat pump webinars hosted by Button Up Vermont on Wednesdays in October, covering topics like getting the most out of a heat pump and low-cost fixes that make a real difference in comfort and cost.