Last month the U.S. Energy Information Administration expected energy prices to increase by about 3.6 percent in 2009, but now they are predicting an increase of 9.8 percent, Advanced Green Technologies said.

The new forecast predicts electricity prices will increase 5.2 percent this year, which is equivalent to an increase of 1.5 times the original projection of a 3.7 percent increase.

AGT is a renewable energy technology distributor based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and in an announcement the company said it has been working with utility companies in several states to help curb record-high energy costs.

Solar power helps utilities meet peak demand from its customers and can decrease cost during those peak times. AGT said it is currently working with the utilities and governments in Florida, California, North Carolina, Arizona and Oregon.