French wholesale power prices surged on 17 July as a heatwave sent temperatures across Europe to seasonal records, driving a sharp increase in demand for air-conditioning. Traders said the jump underscores how summer weather is becoming as disruptive for electricity systems as winter cold snaps, with generation capacity stretched by higher consumption and maintenance outages. The spike comes amid broader evidence that electricity is becoming a larger burden on households. According to Bloomberg Opinion analysis, U.S. retail power prices have climbed more than 35% in the past five years, while electricity costs worldwide grew at twice the pace of overall consumer inflation in June. Analysts attribute the trend to hotter summers, higher natural-gas prices, the rapid build-out of energy-intensive data-centers and the need for costly upgrades to aging grids. Economists warn that unless grids are reinforced and more low-carbon generation is brought online, periods of extreme heat could trigger recurring price shocks and jeopardize government efforts to contain living-cost pressures.