**If yes to Q49** What do you think your energy rights are? (Q49A, Cumulative)

The chart reflects responses to Question #49A from the Spring 2020 and Winter 2020 surveys, which asked: “If yes to 49, what do you think your energy rights are?” This was a check-all-that-apply question, and there were 122 cumulative responses. The options for this question are as follows:

• I have a right to electricity 

• I have a right to internet 

• I have a right to air conditioning  

• I have a right to clean water for bathing, cooking, and drinking - 18

• I have a right to heat 

• I have a right to choose my energy provider 

• I have a right to choose the source of my energy supply 

• I have a right to phone service

• I have a right to financial assistance for any of these services 

• I have a right to an itemized (breakdown of my) utility bill 

• I have a right to updated appliances, if I am a renter, so that my bills are affordable  

• I have a right to appliances and HVAC units that keep my living space healthy 

• Other 

The most common response was “I have a right to electricity”, with 68 individuals selecting this, followed by “I have a right to clean water for bathing, cooking, and drinking”, with 52 individuals selecting this option. Forty-seven individuals selected “I have a right to heat”, 26 individuals selected “I have a right to internet”, and 24 individuals selected “I have a right to air conditioning”. Fifteen individuals selected “I have a right to an itemized (breakdown of my) utility bill”, 15 individuals selected “I have a right to phone service”, 12 individuals selected “I have a right to choose the source of my energy supply”, and 12 individuals selected “I have a right to appliances and HVAC units that keep my living space healthy.” Thirteen individuals selected “I have a right to choose my energy provider”, 15 individuals selected “I have a right to financial assistance for any of these services'', and 10 individuals selected “I have a right to updated appliances, if I am a renter, so that my bills are affordable”. Thirty-nine individuals selected “other”, and these responses were coded thematically. Thirteen individuals elaborated and explained that they believe that they have a right to enough energy to survive, seven individuals stated they have a right to sufficient and reliable energy, five individuals stated they have a right to affordable energy, and four individuals stated that they have a right to gas. Four individuals stated that they have a right to clean energy, two individuals believe they have a right to energy assistance, one individual stated that they have a right to have multiple accommodating options for energy suppliers, one individual stated they have a right to transportation, and one individual stated they have a right to light bulbs. It’s important to note that most respondents selected multiple options for this question and that the response options were not made available to respondents.

The data was produced by the Shifting Energy Demands in COVID-19 Survey, which has been administered to 169 people over two time periods. The Spring 2020 survey was administered to 86 people between May and June, and the Winter 2020 survey was administered to 83 people between December 2020 and March 2021. Visit the Shifting Energy Demands in COVID-19 - Spring + Winter 2020 Survey Results page to view more data from our survey. The project is approved by Drexel’s IRB.