‘It’s just cruel’: US households that had electricity shut off surged amid record hot summer
Summary
In July 2024, the hottest month ever recorded in the US, over 173,000 households in 10 states had their electricity shut off due to unpaid bills. Rising energy costs and extreme heat forced many people to limit their use of air conditioning or lose access to power, causing serious hardship and health risks, especially for older and poorer Americans.Key Facts
- July 2024 was the hottest month ever recorded in the US.
- Utilities shut off electricity to 173,598 households across 10 states in July 2024, a 28% increase from July 2022.
- The National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) reported that many people faced doubled energy bills during the heatwaves.
- Federal data shows 13.4 million household electricity shut-offs in 2024, with high rates in southern states like Texas and Florida.
- About one in six US households are behind on energy bills, risking disconnection.
- 23 states and Washington DC have rules to prevent shut-offs during extreme heat, but 27 states do not.
- People are cutting back on food, medicine, and other essentials to pay their energy bills or using payday loans to restore power.
- The combination of rising electricity prices and frequent heatwaves is causing health and financial troubles for many Americans.
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