More Americans Than Ever Can’t Afford to Pay Their Electric Bill
With more people owing more money, utility companies are getting more aggressive about shutoffs.
A person lays on the street near Times Square during a heatwave in New York, U.S., on Wednesday, June 30, 2021.
Photographer: Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg Hi,
It’s Will Wade, an energy reporter in New York City, here with a warning about an electricity affordability crisis. But first…
This week’s must-read news:
A “Tsunami of Shut-Offs” Is Coming
US electricity prices surging and more people than ever are struggling to pay the power company. More than 20 million American households have fallen behind on their utility bills, about 1 of every 6 homes, and the amount they owe has doubled since before the pandemic.