Reducing the Energy Burden on Low-Income Americans

In an era of U.S. energy abundance, it is troubling that many low-income Americans are persistently paying high energy bills. Even after decades of weatherization improvements, which protect buildings from the elements to reduce energy costs, and bill payment programs to make energy bills more manageable, families with modest incomes still spend a higher percentage of their income on their energy bills than more advantaged income groups. Energy burdens (the ratio of energy bills to income) are especially high in the South, rural America, and minority communities. For instance, among the largest cities in the U.S., the three with the… [more]