NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. home energy bills are expected to rise 7.9% this summer as extreme heat increases cooling costs, according to a study released on Monday by the National Association of Wardens of Energy Assistance and the Center for Energy, Poverty and Climate. .
Mid-Atlantic and West Coast states are predicted to see the biggest increases in household electricity costs from June to September, jumping about 12% from the same period last year, said NEADA and CEPC, which are political organizations. Washington-based focused on affordability. access to energy for people on low incomes. Steep increases of about 10% are also likely for Midwestern states and parts of the southern U.S., the organizations said.
BECAUSE IT’S IMPORTANT
Rising summer home energy bills due to extreme temperatures and rising demand for electricity disproportionately affect low-income households, who are at greater risk of power outages and dangerous heat exposure caused by lack of access to air conditioning. .
BY THE NUMBERS
Summer refrigeration bills from June to September 2024 are expected to reach $719 for households, compared with $476 a decade earlier, the organizations said.
The southern US is likely to see higher overall costs, with energy bills in Texas and neighboring states reaching $858 this summer, the organizations said.
Utility customer debt, which is a measure of what energy customers owe their electricity suppliers, rose to $20.3 billion in December 2023, up from $17.5 billion in January of that year. year, the organizations said.
NEADA and CEPC estimate that 21.2 million U.S. households, or 16%, are behind on their energy bills.
KEY QUOTE
“Access to affordable refrigeration is more than a matter of comfort,” the report states. “For many Americans, especially low-income families and members of vulnerable populations, the difference can be as stark as staying safe and cool or ending up in the emergency room as a result of heatstroke, heart attacks or other heat-related illnesses. conditions.”
(Laila.kearney@thomsonreuters.com; Editing by Josie Kao)
