Episode Details

When Kurt Borchardt opened his latest electricity bill, he thought there was a mistake.

当库尔特·博查特（音译）收到最新一期电费账单时，他简直不敢相信自己的眼睛。

"Our electric bill doubled in one month. Almost a $3,000-$4,000 jump on a single bill," wrote Borchardt, co-owner of Artisanal Brew Works in Saratoga Springs, New York, describing the shock on social media.

"我们一个月的电费翻了一番。单张账单就涨了近三四千美元，"纽约萨拉托加斯普林斯市Artisanal Brew Works啤酒厂合伙人博查特（音译）在社交媒体上描述了当时的震惊。

The brewery had already endured a slow winter season, traditionally its weakest period. Then came what he said was a 133-percent increase in electricity prices. The company's National Grid bill has now become its second-largest expense after rent, squeezing margins at a time when customer traffic remains slow.

该啤酒厂刚熬过传统上最惨淡的冬季淡季。紧接着就遭遇了133%的电价涨幅。如今，国家电网公司的账单已成为该厂仅次于房租的第二大开支，在客流量持续低迷之际进一步挤压利润空间。

"When I saw that bill, I fell out of my chair," Borchardt told local television station WTEN. His frustration reflects a broader national trend.

"看到账单时，我惊得从椅子上站了起来，"博查特对当地电视台WTEN表示。他的无奈折射出美国正面临的全国性趋势。

Electricity prices in the United States are emerging as a new source of economic strain, raising concerns about inflation, industrial competitiveness and political risk, particularly after a colder-than-average winter drove up heating demand and tightened natural gas markets.

美国电价正成为新的经济压力源，引发对通胀、工业竞争力和政治风险的担忧——特别是在遭遇比往年更冷的冬季，取暖需求上升而天然气市场供应趋紧之后。

The most recent US Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index report showed that overall inflation rose 2.4 percent in the past 12 months ending in January while electricity prices increased 6.3 percent. Though gasoline prices have fluctuated, electricity bills have continued to climb steadily, placing sustained pressure on both households and businesses.

美国劳工统计局最新消费者价格指数报告显示，过去12个月（截至1月）整体通胀上涨2.4%，而电价涨幅达6.3%。尽管汽油价格有所波动，电价却持续攀升，给家庭和企业带来持续压力。

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