Behavioral and financial coping strategies among energy-insecure households

Sanya Carley, Michelle Graff, David M. Konisky and Trevor Memmott
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Michelle Graff: b Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH 44115
David M. Konisky: a O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405;
Trevor Memmott: a O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405;

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2022, vol. 119, issue 36, e2205356119

Abstract: Millions of Americans are regularly unable to pay their energy bills. For these Americans, avoiding being shut off from their electricity service is a daily challenge and one that requires them to take financial and behavioral risks, such as acquiring utility debt or burning trash to generate heat. In this study, we find these techniques to be prevalent and often used in combination. We also find that households with young children and those with individuals who rely on electricity to power their medical devices are more likely to use these coping techniques, as are households with deficient housing conditions. There are, however, efforts that the government can undertake to help these especially vulnerable populations.

Keywords: energy insecurity; energy poverty; coping strategies; material hardship; COVID-19 pandemic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nas:journl:v:119:y:2022:p:e2205356119

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