{"id":1625362,"date":"2022-08-29T09:03:39","date_gmt":"2022-08-29T13:03:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1625362"},"modified":"2022-08-29T09:04:16","modified_gmt":"2022-08-29T13:04:16","slug":"electric-bills-skyrocket-crippling-low-income-families-with-no-end-in-sight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/electric-bills-skyrocket-crippling-low-income-families-with-no-end-in-sight\/","title":{"rendered":"Electric Bills Skyrocket, Crippling Low Income Families With No End In Sight"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Felectric-bills-skyrocket-crippling-low-income-families-with-no-end-in-sight%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1625362&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><\/div>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Inflation has hurt everyone in the United States, regardless of income level. Between rising gas prices, shocking grocery costs, and crippling utility bills, many of us have to get creative with our monthly budgets.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">I\u2019ve always been a hawk with my finances, checking my balance sheets daily and analyzing my spending habits regularly. Like many Americans, I work hard, pay my debts on time, and find a deal where I can get them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">One area I\u2019m not too keen on adjusting is the comfort level in my home, especially during these hot summer days. However, rising electric costs across the country have caused millions of households to choose between air conditioning and food.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">paying my utility bill <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VbnwykjHsg\">pic.twitter.com\/VbnwykjHsg<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 LIL TX \ud83e\uddda\ud83c\udffc\u200d\u2642\ufe0f bb ems (@offlineinhbitnt) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/offlineinhbitnt\/status\/1562928364259889152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 25, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It\u2019s Getting Hot In Here<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The pandemic was challenging for many Americans whose jobs couldn\u2019t easily translate into a remote positions. Many of us may take this for granted. I was in the military when COVID kicked off, and while my job wasn\u2019t remote, I still worked and received the same paycheck I had always received.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, for many in the food service industry, housecleaning and custodial services, and other such industries, work was scarce, if at all available. There was some relief for many during the pandemic. Still, many of the payment moratoriums are no longer in effect at the worst possible time.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Hey Joe, 20 million Americans are behind on their electric bill. Are you going to &#8220;cancel&#8221; that debt too?<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Cari Kelemen 2.0 (@CariKelemen) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CariKelemen\/status\/1562790295434960897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 25, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div id=\"subscribe\" class=\"email-signup inarticle\">\n<h4>Support Conservative Voices!<\/h4>\n<h5><strong>Sign up to receive the latest<\/strong> political news, insight, and commentary delivered directly to your inbox.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Currently, there are approximately <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/money\/2022\/08\/24\/20-million-americans-are-behind-on-their-utility-bills\/7884197001\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">20 million American households<\/a> that have fallen behind on their utility bills. To put that into perspective, that\u2019s one in six homes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Over the past year, <a href=\"https:\/\/oilprice.com\/Energy\/Energy-General\/20-Million-American-Households-Are-Behind-On-Energy-Bills.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">nearly 20% of households<\/a> reported that they kept their home at a temperature that they felt was unsafe for about a month to stay afloat on their utility payment. Often utility companies are instructed not to turn off power to houses during the winter months so as not to put lives in danger.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, that is not generally the case during the summer, and these months have been particularly steamy. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/newsletters\/2022-08-25\/more-americans-than-ever-can-t-afford-to-pay-their-electric-bill\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forty-one states<\/a> have safety shutoff protections for residents during the winter. Only 19 states have protections in the summer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED: <a href=\"https:\/\/thepoliticalinsider.com\/exclusive-sky-high-inflation-crushing-veterans-says-code-of-vets-founder-gretchen-smith\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">EXCLUSIVE: Sky-High Inflation Crushing Veterans, Says Code of Vets Founder Gretchen Smith<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">How Much Do We Owe?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oilprice.com\/Energy\/Energy-General\/20-Million-American-Households-Are-Behind-On-Energy-Bills.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">In the last year<\/a>, electricity bills are up on average 15%, which is the highest increase since 2006. The price hike has been felt across the country, from the north and south to the east and west.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Texans have paid about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/energy\/texas-grid-avoids-summer-blackouts-with-1-billion-extra-spending-2022-08-25\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">50% more<\/a> in electric bills. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wmur.com\/article\/new-hampshire-electricity-costs-8122\/40775888\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New Hampshire residents<\/a> have paid varying increases depending on the region, from 25% to a whopping 77% increase. In addition, U.S. households owe about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-11146783\/Record-20-MILLION-Americans-power-bills-face-cutoffs.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">$16 billion<\/a> in late energy payments, which is double the pre-pandemic amount.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/money\/2022\/08\/24\/20-million-americans-are-behind-on-their-utility-bills\/7884197001\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">California PG&#038;E<\/a> has seen a 40% increase in past due accounts, and New Jersey Public Service Enterprise Group saw a 30% increase in delinquent accounts. Generally speaking, most electric companies turn off power as a last resort.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, with inflation and the unprecedented amount of past-due accounts, companies are left with little choice. <a href=\"https:\/\/africa.businessinsider.com\/finance\/soaring-electricity-prices-amid-the-global-energy-crunch-have-led-to-20-million\/ztpm946\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jean Su<\/a>, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, puts it best with her warning; \u201cI expect a Tsunami of shutoffs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2022-08-23\/can-t-pay-utility-bills-20-million-us-homes-behind-on-payments-facing-shutoffs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">80% of customers<\/a> who have their power shut off will have it back online within a few days, thanks to nonprofit assistance and payment plans. But what about the other 20%?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Under the Inflation Reduction Act, households can save up to 30% with tax credits for home construction projects on windows, insulation, and other weatherization measures that prevent energy from escaping homes \u2013 which can lower future utility bills by at least $350 per year.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WhiteHouse\/status\/1561412821384044544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 21, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">How Did We Get Here?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">There are a few culprits to the rising cost of power. First, the price of power is directly linked to the cost of natural gas. The price of natural gas has skyrocketed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/2022\/07\/05\/texas-energy-bills-natural-gas-export\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">200%<\/a> since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Adding insult to injury we\u2019ve had to export quite a bit of our natural gas to help out Europe, which has also suffered from stratospheric electric bills. As the Chief Financial Officer for CPS Energy in San Antonio, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/2022\/07\/05\/texas-energy-bills-natural-gas-export\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cory Kuchinsky<\/a> said:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cWe\u2019ve seen Texas gas go over to Europe, which has then created a supply issue locally in the state of Texas.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The war in Ukraine doesn\u2019t appear to be ending anytime soon; if you thought the prices would go down once the war ended, you\u2019re probably wrong. Instead, costs are anticipated to continue to rise over the next few years.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">1 out of 6 households are behind on their utility bills, yet we&#8217;re canceling $10,000 of student loan debt for those making $125,000 a year or less???? Does anything make sense any longer?<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 The Big Guy get 10% (@RobGerundo) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RobGerundo\/status\/1562587708530180097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 24, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Last year\u2019s winter storm in Texas brought many power companies across the country to the realization that the electric grids need to be hardened, which, you guessed it, costs money. With power companies spending more on new transmission lines, batteries, wind turbines, and solar farms, customers can expect to see their electric bills continue to rise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED: <a href=\"https:\/\/thepoliticalinsider.com\/credit-card-debt-surging-as-wages-cant-keep-up-with-inflation-and-biden-considers-student-loan-forgiveness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Credit Card Debt Surging As Wages Can\u2019t Keep Up With Inflation And Biden Considers Student Loan Forgiveness<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Affordability Emergency<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Like most things related to inflation, the people who feel this pain the most are those in the lower income brackets. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wmur.com\/article\/electricity-rates-climb-new-hampshire\/40710637\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New Hampshire consumer advocate Don Kreis<\/a> puts it perfectly:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cEnergy burdens fall disproportionately on people with low incomes and so, when you see an increase of that magnitude, it hits hardest on those who can\u2019t afford that kind of increase and people are going to have to make some very difficult budget choices.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Wasn\u2019t it bad enough earlier this year when families had to make hard choices to find the <a href=\"https:\/\/thepoliticalinsider.com\/the-baby-formula-shortage-is-a-crisis-that-demands-immediate-attention\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">baby formula<\/a>, then struggle to get to work with <a href=\"https:\/\/thepoliticalinsider.com\/gas-prices-break-record-but-diesel-prices-will-greatly-affect-all-americans-and-the-world\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rising gas prices<\/a>, but now they have to choose between air conditioning and groceries possibly? Is anyone doing anything about this crisis?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Congress did ask for more emergency funding on top of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/newsletters\/2022-08-25\/more-americans-than-ever-can-t-afford-to-pay-their-electric-bill\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">$4 billion<\/a> already allocated for federal assistance programs geared towards helping those with overdue utility bills. But perhaps they were too busy figuring out how to <a href=\"https:\/\/thepoliticalinsider.com\/biden-setting-up-student-loan-forgiveness-for-well-off-borrowers-after-pelosi-said-he-has-no-such-power\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">forgive student loans<\/a>, a tax the same families who are hurting from the utility bills will carry no doubt.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2022\/05\/03\/business\/energy-environment\/high-electric-bills-summer.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Executive Director of the Utility Reform Network, Mark Toney<\/a>, said plainly:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cThis is an affordability emergency. If you want to control inflation, one of the things you have to control is energy costs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The problem is it doesn\u2019t appear that anyone wants to control inflation in D.C. It\u2019s just too great of a political football to punt around; add it to the list with immigration reform, college tuition hikes, and the tax code.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Now is the time to support and share the sources you trust.<\/strong><br \/>The Political Insider ranks #3 on <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.feedspot.com\/political_blogs\/\">Feedspot\u2019s<\/a> \u201c100 Best Political Blogs and Websites.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Inflation has hurt everyone in the United States, regardless of income level. Between rising gas prices, shocking grocery costs, and crippling utility bills, many of us have to get<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1625366,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1625362","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1625362","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1625362"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1625362\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1625366"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1625362"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1625362"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1625362"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}