Households in the Northeast and Midwest are bracing for double-digit increases in utility costs this winter, particularly those reliant on electricity for heating. The National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) predicts an average seasonal cost of $941, driven by rising electricity prices and forecasts of colder weather. Electricity-dependent households could see the most significant surge, with bills expected to jump 14.2% to an average of $1,189. This follows record-high summer electricity costs, leaving many families facing increased expenses on both ends of the year. NEADA advocates for increased funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help mitigate these rising costs.
Households' utility costs in the Northeast and the Midwest could rise by double digits this season, especially for those who rely on electricity to stay warm.to an average of $941 for the season, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, which represents state administrators of federal utility aid to low-income households.
Under LIHEAP’s current funding levels, about 80% of the program’s aid goes toward winter heating costs and 20% toward summer cooling, Wolfe estimated. That has left little to help indebted households pay down their overdue bills. That could mean power shutoffs for many households and “tough choices of paying for their utility bills or food, medicine and other essentials,” he said.
Already, NEADA estimates 1 in 6 households are behind on their utility bills. The total amount of money owed in arrears has swelled by roughly 30% over the past 12 months for electricity and natural gas customers, topping out around $21 billion by the end of September. NEADA attributes much of the debt increase to
Utility Costs Heating Electricity LIHEAP Energy Prices
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