Struggling with energy bills: Low-, middle-income households cut back in order to pay utilities

[marmar]

from MarketWatch:



Struggling with energy bills
Low-, middle-income households cut back in order to pay utilities
By Stephanie I. Cohen
Last update: 10:30 a.m. EDT June 11, 2008

PRINCETON, N.J. (MarketWatch) -- Low-income and middle-income households are dealing with higher energy bills in similar fashion these days -- lowering the thermostat, eating out less, buying cheaper versions of products they need, spending less on clothes and medicine, and even changing their plans for education.

Fuel-oil prices have increased more than 40% in the past year and gasoline prices increased by over a third, leaving many low- and middle-income households struggling to pay their energy bills, according to a new survey by the National Energy Assistance Director's Association released Wednesday.

A majority of households surveyed (57%) said energy bills are higher today than they were a year ago. While the impacts of steadily increasing energy costs are being felt hardest by low-income families -- a family of four making less than $33,300 a year -- plenty of families making between $33,300 and $77,000 say they are feeling the pinch and changing what they buy and how they heat and cool their homes.

More lower-income households reported that their energy bills had increased (63%) than any other economic group. Roughly 60% of low-income households, 49% of moderate-income households, and 42% of middle-income households said it is more difficult for them to pay these bills this year, according to the study.

Gasoline prices hit household budgets the hardest, according to the study. Nearly three-quarters of low-income, 70% of moderate-income, and 61% of middle-income respondents said that increased gasoline costs had a large impact on their budgets.

The two biggest cutbacks across all households are scaled-back purchases of basic household necessities (43%) and smaller food bills (43%).

As prices at the pump continue to climb, at least 65% of respondents of all income groups said they are driving less, while low-income households reported they are much more likely to use public transportation and ride-sharing more.

Low-income households are making sacrifices elsewhere to counter increased home energy and gasoline costs including fewer food purchases (70%), not buying medicine (31%), and altering plans for their education or their children's education (19%). .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/story.aspx?guid=%7BC7F1429A%2D2C5C%2D4368%2DB155%2D0C677976FD25%7D

[malta blue]

1. no AC here...can't afford to do it. nt

[marmar]

2. This last weekend had to be a real SOB for you then....

n/t

[malta blue]

4. I was a fierce hoomin.

Blessedly, I HAD to go to work on Sunday for 3 hours and was in an uber a/c office - I wear a fleece at my desk - and then just collapsed once I got home.

[Radio_Lady]

3. Today, this middle class retiree and her husband decided to:

Here's a report from the yuppy elderly crew of two here in Oregon. We pledged to:

Give up the use of the big car, and go everywhere we can together in the 2000 Eclipse, which has better mileage.

Cut down on pleasure trips by car. Go walking instead.

My new volunteer position is only 2.7 miles away and I'll go there once a week. www.forwardstride.org if you're curious...

Get back to the 24 Hour fitness gym, where we have a lifetime membership. It's only 1/2 mile away.

The biggest new thing is I WENT TO A BARBER AND CUT OFF MOST OF MY HAIR. I'm sick of coloring it, paying for shampoos, conditioners, sweeping it up off my bathroom floor (all white tile).

I just hope people don't think I am taking chemotherapy.

[maryf]

5. Forced to make choices...

People are becoming more oppressed and depressed, especially if they have children. I hope for a mild summer, and pray for a mild winter next year. We gotta start looking out more for those in more dire circumstances as well...thanks for this...

[bobbolink]

10. Those of us without children aren't doing so well ourselves.

Especially those of us living in our cars.

"We gotta start looking out more for those in more dire circumstances as well..."

Except for the rare few, I've given up on this happening......

[chill_wind]

6. Well, thanks to Bush and McBush's illegal war...

Taxpayers in the United States will pay $525.9 billion for total Iraq war spending approved to date.

*$4,681 per household.

*$1,721 per person.

*$341.4 million per day.





For the same amount of money, the following could have been provided:


544,442,018 Homes with Renewable Electricity for One Year

http://www.nationalpriorities.org/tradeoffs

[maryf]

7. Thanks great website, I use it too!

I posted some similar info a while back. I made a flier for my local district, so the costs are for one congressional district for each of the past five years.

LOCAL COSTS OF IRAQ

Taxpayers in Congressional District 20 (Gillibrand) have paid $1.6 billion for the Iraq War thus far. For the same amount of money, the following could have been provided for each of the past five years:


1,794 Affordable Housing Units OR (yes, in my little district for EACH year!!)
3,656 School Teachers (I think more)OR
58,215 People with Health Care OR
591,010 Homes with Renewable Electricity OR
6,093 Public Safety Officers OR
51,514 Scholarships for University Students OR
17 New Elementary Schools OR
110,312 Children with Health Care OR
35,966 Head Start Places for Children OR
4,744 Port Container Inspectors

you could also have ALL the above for EACH year divided equally thus:

179 new homes AND
367 teachers AND
5,821 People with health care AND
59,101 homes with renewable electricity AND
609 Public Safety Officers AND
5,151 Scholarships for University Students AND
2 New Elementary Schools AND
11,031 Children with health care AND
3,597 Head Start places for children AND
474 Port Container Inspectors AND

Just think of how much lower your property and school taxes could be!

The above was extrapolated from data from the National Priorities Project.

http://www.nationalpriorities.org/publications/local_co...

Lets have some accountablity, hey??

[chill_wind]

9. I always like the big picture stuff, Make the numbers meaningful.

That site has enough data in concrete examples to make a thousand 30-second ad spots for Obama and all Dems.

I also wish every town had one of these:

This simple electronic sign displays five pieces of information in a scrolling fashion, and does so day and night. The above photo captures, of course, only one moment of the whole continuously scrolling message the sign displays. The numbers, which we update almost every day, are these:

U.S. TROOPS KILLED

IRAQI CIVILIANS DEAD

U.S. WOUNDED

EXTRA COST TO -

USA

TO OUR TOWN

This sign costs about $950 and easily can be replicated in any community. All it takes is someone’s initiative to spearhead the project, acquire a sign and find a good place to hang it. In most communities, no permit is needed for a sign that is mounted inside a window and is showing to the outside.

http://www.nationalpriorities.org/node/5748

[maryf]

11. Wow!! wonderful idea!

I will bookmark this and share the info, Thanks for a great idea! Mary

[Carnea]

8. Actually electric bills shouldn't be that much higher.

State utilities control cost. Now as far as I know I get my electricity from a garbage burning plant but the nearby nuclear plant may also contribute. (don't hold me to this)


Now home heating oil on the other hand is fucking insane. I think Florida's housing crisis will be solved when millions of New Englander's get a $6000 home heating bill for winter. (I've got room for a family of four tops)