For low-income families, this threat is a daily reality. Regardless of what changes take place in the electrical industry the need for affordable energy remains.
Energy costs play a substantial part in the financial pressures low-income people face.
It is, thus, critical that the vital needs of vulnerable low-income families not be ignored in efforts to restructure or deregulate the electrical industry. Outside of housing costs, energy is the next highest burden for low-income families. The cost of energy and amount of energy used by a low-income family is well over 3 times that of the average households. Energy efficiency programs and bill payment assistance help low-income households avoid difficult decisions about how to allocate their resources. Additional resources can assist families in better meeting basic needs and moving toward self-sufficiency.