Voters Across the Political Spectrum Want Affordable and Reliable Electricity, Modernization, and Local Say in Grid Decisions

Cygnal, one of the nation’s fastest-growing and most accurate private polling firms, conducted a new bipartisan survey with the Conservative Energy Network (CEN) revealing that voters in two energy regions, PJM (Ohio and Pennsylvania) and MISO (Arkansas, Missouri, and Mississippi) strongly support modernizing America’s electricity grid. The findings highlight overwhelming agreement across parties and regions that grid upgrades are key to affordability, reliability, and U.S. energy independence, with broad preference for state and local leadership in grid decision-making.

Top Takeaways from the CEN–Cygnal Grid Survey:

Bipartisan Support is Overwhelming: 81 percent of voters back grid investments, especially when they mean lower monthly bills and fewer blackouts. Two-thirds favor expanded transmission lines, including majority support among conservatives.

“In Pennsylvania and Ohio, voters are sending a clear message: they want state leaders to invest in the grid so families can avoid blackouts and keep energy bills affordable,” said Sarah Spence. “Notably, conservatives overwhelmingly support this approach when reliability and cost savings are at stake.”

Affordability Tops Voter Concerns: 87 percent of voters worry about rising utility bills, and 65 percent say keeping electricity affordable as their top priority—far exceeding concerns about reliability. Over half are willing to pay slightly more in the short term if grid upgrades will save money and bring costs down in the future.

“These findings underscore a clear message: Voters across the political spectrum agree that affordable, reliable energy is the backbone of American prosperity and security,” said John Szoka, CEO of the Conservative Energy Network. “When we invest in modern transmission, we strengthen our economy, protect families from rising costs, and ensure America, not foreign adversaries, controls our energy future.”

Local Control and Landowner Rights Matter: Only 14 percent of voters want federal control over new transmission lines, meaning most voters want local or state authorities to maintain control. Additionally, a majority of voters (52 percent) defend landowners’ rights to block transmission construction on their property.

“Grid modernization shouldn’t be a partisan issue; it’s a practical step forward to sustain our state and our nation,” said Brent Bailey. “People want to responsibly strengthen our grid in a way that respects landowners, keeps costs down, and ensures we can power homes and businesses with American energy.”

Competition and Efficiency Drive Solutions: 65 percent favor letting private companies—not just utilities—compete to build new power lines. Nearly half support streamlining regulations to speed up permitting, signaling demand for more competitive, market-driven approaches.

Support Crosses Regions and Political Lines: Voters consistently agree that grid upgrades mean stronger, safer communities and economic opportunity.

“These results confirm what we see every day: Americans, including conservative voters in the heart of MISO, want practical, commonsense solutions that keep energy affordable, reliable, and secure,”said Salome Garcia. “Whether in Pennsylvania or Mississippi, people see grid modernization as about protecting families, respecting property rights, and strengthening America’s energy future.”

Click here for the full survey results.

Methodology: PJM: Survey of 800 likely general election voters in Ohio and Pennsylvania fielded August 13–17, 2025; margin of error ±3.46%. Interviews conducted via live phone and SMS-to-web; sample weighted to likely electorate. MISO: Survey of 1000 likely general election voters in Arkansas, Missouri, and Mississippi fielded August 17–20, 2025; margin of error ±3.09%. Interviews conducted via live phone and SMS-to-web; sample weighted to likely electorate.

Cygnal, an award-winning international public opinion and predictive analytics firm, has revolutionized the polling industry with its multi-mode polling, message mapping, and Political Emotive Analysis. Recognized as the #1 private pollster by the Silver Bulletin, FiveThirtyEight and The New York Times, Cygnal boasts an impressive 94% accuracy rate in the 2024 election cycle. With experience in all 50 U.S. states and 17 countries, the firm has conducted over 3,000 campaigns and more than 1,500 polls since 2023. Cygnal’s client roster includes high-profile figures such as Governors Greg Abbott and Brian Kemp, along with numerous Members of Congress, solidifying its position as a leader in political polling and analytics.

The Conservative Energy Network is a 501(c)(3) non-profit coalition of 26 state-based conservative clean energy organizations championing secure, reliable, affordable, clean American energy. Learn more at www.conservativeenergynetwork.org.