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). While electric and gas utilities offer protections from service disconnections during certain months of the year or during certain weather conditions, shutoff protections vary widely across states and utilities. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated conditions of energy insecurity, but the problem is not new.
Over the past several years, the Energy Justice Lab has worked to understand the coping strategies individuals may 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. We track utility disconnection protections across place and time and evaluate the degree to which protections may prevent adverse health outcomes. We assess these protections and trends in the context of the changing climate, COVID-19 pandemic, and between jurisdiction and utility providers. How adequately do disconnection protections protect those that are most vulnerable?
Temporary disconnection moratoria during the COVID-19 reduced rates of disconnection and other metrics of energy insecurity. Check out our 
A rich data set enables a thorough analysis of energy insecurity during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
30% of respondents were unable to pay at least one energy bill over the course of a year; explore the connections between race and housing conditions.
Climate change will exacerbate the issue of energy insecurity.
Escalated sociodemographic disparities appear amid the COVID-19 crisis
Seemingly minor differences in policy design produce significant differences in levels of protection, all while climate change increases exposure to extreme temperatures.
Despite increased attention, residential energy insecurity is a widespread and persistent problem in the USA. We offer several lines of inquiry that may help reduce energy insecurity's incidence and impact.
Essential relief must be provided to the growing number of households that are energy insecure and protect them from even more dire circumstances caused by utility disconnections and unpaid energy bills.