Current:Home > FinanceHere's how much your summer cooling costs could increase as mercury rises -WealthSpot
Here's how much your summer cooling costs could increase as mercury rises
View
Date:2025-04-17 10:29:33
High temperatures will do more than beat down American bodies this summer: They'll hit their wallets hard, too.
The financial burden on families of cooling their homes will jump nearly 8% across the United States, from an average cost of $661 from June through September to $719, according to projections from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) and the Center for Energy Poverty, and Climate (CEPC).
"There are two components to a summer electric bill — one is the cost of fuel, and second is how much you use," CEPC director Mark Wolfe said during a press conference on Monday.
The steamy temperatures are likely to have an even more acute impact on cooling costs in the Mid-Atlantic, East South Central and Pacific regions, where energy prices are forecast to increase by up to 12% this summer compared with a year ago. The rising cost of cooling your home is one of the myriad impacts of climate change on Americans, and illustrates some of the financial implications of global warming for individuals and families.
Nearly 20% of low-income families lack air conditioning, which can pose a health risk in periods of high heat, according to the NEADA and CEPC report. In some cases, meanwhile, families may have AC but choose not to turn it on for fear of not being able to afford the electricity bill.
"One way families cope with the high cost of cooling is they just don't use it," Wolfe said.
Solutions for families that can't afford to properly cool their homes are also outdated, failing to account for the long periods of intense heat afflicting parts of the U.S. during the summer.
"In less extreme situations, a family can ride out a hot day by opening their windows, taking a cool shower and hoping it cools down at night. But when the heat persists for weeks, or the outside air is dangerous, opening a window will only make things worse," the report's authors wrote.
For example, cooling centers — air conditioned facilities that families can retreat to during extreme heat — often can't accommodate enough people. "You cant ask a family to go move into a cooling center. They also don't have capacity," Wolfe said.
Possible remedies offered by the groups include providing bill payment assistance for low-income families. For example, in Connecticut eligible families receive a 50% discount on utility bills.
The report's authors also favor rules that would prohibit utility companies from shutting off power during heat waves for households that fall behind on their utility bills. Currently, only 17 states and Washington, D.C., have such summer shutoff protections. and many are limited to specific dates.
Megan CerulloMegan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News 24/7 to discuss her reporting.
veryGood! (185)
Related
- All That You Wanted to Know About She’s All That
- For years, an Arkansas man walked 5 miles to work. Then hundreds in his community formed a makeshift rideshare service.
- See Olivia Wilde's Style Evolution Through the Years, From The O.C. to OMG
- Kamilla Cardoso saves South Carolina with buzzer-beater 3 vs. Tennessee in SEC Tournament
- 'We're reborn!' Gazans express joy at returning home to north
- Great Barrier Reef undergoing mass coral bleaching event for 5th time in nearly a decade
- Stratolaunch conducts first powered flight of new hypersonic vehicle off California coast
- For years, an Arkansas man walked 5 miles to work. Then hundreds in his community formed a makeshift rideshare service.
- Israel lets Palestinians go back to northern Gaza for first time in over a year as cease
- You Need to See Liza Koshy Handle Her Red Carpet Tumble Like a Total Pro
Ranking
- Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams
- West Virginia lawmakers OK bill drawing back one of the country’s strictest child vaccination laws
- Bradley Cooper Twins With Mom Gloria Campano On 2024 Oscars Red Carpet
- Ashley Tisdale Reveals Where She and Vanessa Hudgens Stand Amid Feud Rumors
- Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
- No. 8 Southern California tops No. 2 Stanford to win women's Pac-12 championship
- AFC team needs: From the Chiefs to the Patriots, the biggest team needs in NFL free agency
- Da’Vine Joy Randolph wins her first Oscar after being a favorite for her work in ‘The Holdovers’
Recommendation
Juan Soto praise of Mets' future a tough sight for Yankees, but World Series goal remains
South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso shoves LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson, is ejected with 5 other players
Time change for 2024 daylight saving happened last night. Here are details on our spring forward.
Behind the scenes with the best picture Oscar nominees ahead of the 2024 Academy Awards ceremony
'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
Coast Guard investigates oil spill spotted in California off Huntington Beach's coast
Why Dwayne Johnson Is Rooting For Best Friend Emily Blunt and Oppenheimer at Oscars 2024
Becky G's Sultry 2024 Oscars Ensemble Is One You Need to See