Energy Affordability
Energy affordability is whether households can pay for the electricity, heating, and cooling they need. It depends on rates set by regulators, the cost of fuel and delivery, the weather, and the size and efficiency of a home. Utilities, state commissions, and federal and state assistance programs all play a part.
People usually ask why energy bills rise, who decides what utilities may charge, and what help exists for households that struggle to pay. They also ask how assistance programs work, what protections exist against shutoffs, and how public policy tries to balance low bills with reliable service and the cost of maintaining the grid.
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Referenced by Brookings, CNN, Forbes, Fox News, Pew Research, Snopes, The Hill and USA Today.
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