Millions of Americans are energy insecure, meaning they are uncertain about their ability to pay their energy bills. These individuals and households may face service shutoffs or endure otherwise poor living conditions (e.g., too cold, too hot, limited refrigeration, limited or no internet access, limited or impaired ability to use medical devices).
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these conditions. Over the past several years, Energy Justice Lab has worked to understand the coping strategies energy insecure individuals use to manage their living conditions. Through various surveys and other methods, our team has identified contributing factors and made recommendations to improve living conditions.