Estimating and Mapping Energy Burdens Across the U.S

Household energy burden can be simply expressed as a percentage of income expended on energy costs. Energy burden is also situated within the broader issue of energy poverty; which considers whether individuals have uninterrupted access to affordable energy that provides for their basic needs and comfort. This session will provide findings from a current analysis of energy burdens across the U.S. with particular focus on low-income households eligible for the U.S. DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). The session will describe the methodology using a national survey administered by DOE’s Energy Information Administration, the Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) during 2020. This work builds upon previous work published by this presenter and will provide new maps that explore energy burdens at varying levels of geography (e.g., states), by different climate regions, and alongside other mapping tools that align with Justice40 Initiatives.