The National Weather Service has predicted that much of the country will have above-normal temperatures this summer. That means higher electricity usage for many households. Many Americans may get hot under the collar when they open their electric bills this summer, but for some, the
The difference in projections stems from the association assuming higher rates of usage because of hotter temperatures, Wolfe said. Also, the association’s estimate of the total bill is larger because it includes the month of September in its summer forecast.. Heat-related deaths are also on the rise, with just over 2,300 people succumbing last year, up from just over 1,600 in 2021, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
“There’s a need to rethink and modernize energy assistance programs to reflect current climate realities, which have a lot to do with warming temperatures and increasing needs to stay cool at home for health, safety and survivability,” Hernandez said. “This is real, but our policies don’t reflect the reality.”Though many Americans are struggling to pay their utilities, federal assistance for these bills was slashed by one-third this fiscal year.
The number of people behind in their utility bills and the amount of money they owe are at record highs, according to the association, which began tracking these figures when arrearages exploded in 2020 at the start of the pandemic.