Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, governments scrambled to “keep everyone’s lights on.” Nationally, 34 states imposed moratoriums on utility shutoffs in the year since lockdowns began. As UCAN has extensively written about, California was one of those states. Commentators observed that the moratoriums were a big help but also a mask to the continuing utility affordability problems. But the rising cost of utilities has been a long-simmering issue. A 2020 study found that 25% of all U.S. households face a high energy burden, meaning they pay at least 6% of their income on energy bills. This article provides a helpful national context to the issue: https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/utility-shutoff-moratoriums-during-pandemic-whats-next/606101/.
