Results for: Energy Burden

Nearly half of households in the Inland Empire, encompassing Riverside and San Bernardino counties, are struggling to meet their basic expenses, according to a Census Bureau survey. The area has the highest proportion of respondents facing financial stress among the 15 largest US metro areas. One-third of households reported difficulties paying energy bills in the past year, and one in seven experienced food insecurity in the previous week. Despite a booming warehousing industry during the pandemic, the metro area has seen a recent slowdown and higher-than-average unemployment and inflation rates.

Approximately 23,000 Minnesota households could receive significant savings on their Xcel Energy electric bills under a proposed pilot program. The company plans to provide automatic bill credits averaging over $450 annually to residents in designated low-income areas, regardless of income or enrollment. This initiative aims to address the disproportionate burden of energy costs on economically vulnerable communities, particularly BIPOC households. The pilot, developed in collaboration with an equity advisory group, uses census data to identify eligible areas where residents spend over 4% of their income on electricity.