Millions of Americans are falling behind on utility bills, with debt estimated at $32bn by the end of 2020, up from $12bn before the pandemic, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association (NEADA). The crisis is deepening as winter approaches and energy prices rise.
Diana Morgan Magda of Girard, Ohio, had her gas shut off in May. She now heats water with an electric kettle for baths and relies on a microwave and electric skillet for cooking. She fears her electricity will also be disconnected. Local charities have no funds until November.
Mark Wolfe, executive director of NEADA, said utility debt could have been worse without federal aid but warned that natural gas prices may rise 30% this winter. He called for additional funding to prevent arrearages from spiking again.
Only Washington DC and three states—New York, New Jersey, and Wyoming—continue utility shutoff moratoriums. An analysis by the Center for Biological Diversity found over 1 million households in 17 states experienced a shutoff since March 2020. In California alone, $2.7bn in debt accrued.
Hunter Wade of Marquette, Michigan, had his utilities shut off in September after his unemployment benefits expired. He spent 24 hours without power before receiving help from a local organisation. He remains concerned about future disconnections.
A single mother in Indiana, who requested anonymity, was laid off earlier this year. She recently found work but still struggles to pay bills. More than one in four Americans report difficulty covering usual expenses.
