The expected high temperatures around the summer in the United States can affect the budgets of Americans by increasing the price of maintaining home.
Home electricity bills are expected to rise to 784 dollars on average for the summer period, an increase of more than 6 % of $ 737 in 2024, and a 12 -year record, according to Jadid, analysis From the National Association of Energy Assistance Managers (NEADA).
The growing expenses come in the wake of the cold winter season, which paid heating costs for many Americans, and with consumers continuing to deal with High prices on daily goods. Consumers are increasingly expressing their concerns about how Definitions It can affect their daily costs, and Gallop Find.
“We have found that it will be an expensive summer for air conditioning because temperatures will remain high, and electricity prices were increasing faster than inflation,” Mark Wolf, CEO of Nemada, told CBS Moneywatch.
Nida said that the expected rise in the costs of residential electricity from June to September is due to the combination of the high cost of electricity, which exceeds inflation, with high temperatures. These trends mean that families are not expected to pay higher prices for electricity, but they are likely to consume them more than they were last summer because of the need for more cooling.
“It is not only the temperatures that rise, but the cost of cooling rises,” said Wolf. “And when electricity prices rise, they tend to stay high. So even if the temperatures are moderate, your bill may rise due to the cost of electricity.”
Unpaid bills
Energy costs deal with a greater share of low -income families budgets compared to higher organs. Low -income families spend approximately 8.6 % of their income on energy costs, compared to 3 % for those that rise the income ladder, according to Neada.
Wolf noted that it is worrisome, that the lowest leaves can struggle to maintain cold homes. The most recent family pulse survey found that 37 % of low -income families cannot afford their energy bills for at least one month between April 2023 and the April 2024.
Wolf noted that if these families find themselves in a financial crisis this summer, they may choose to stop air conditioning, which may pose serious health risks.
“Last winter was cold, so they exceeded their heating bills, and they are now facing high cooling costs in the summer,” explained Wolf. “While people understand that if the heat is not used in the winter, your tubes will freeze, this will not happen in the summer.”
The frequency of the operation of air conditioning can have harmful health effects such as heat blow. “Although this will not harm your building, it will harm you,” Wolf said.
Severe heat and health
Public aid programs did not keep pace with the advanced climate, according to Lolf. “We are facing heat waves that last longer, and the systems in force to protect families have not continued,” he said.
Cooling cost expectations this summer should be taken as a sign that federal and state assistance programs require update, according to Wolf. Only 26 states provide cooling in summer to help the Americans pay their bills. In thirty -three states, there is no protection to prevent the facilities company from closing customers’ access to electricity when they are behind payments.
Heath Extreme is the leading weather of weather in the United States, according to national weather service.
Wolf says that taking steps to update your home can help families save money. For example, adding insulation to your home can help control energy bills.
“Families should start preparing for harsh weather in the long run and thinking about the energy efficiency of their cooling systems,” he said.
