Energy Vulnerability

Utility Shutoffs and The COVID-19 Pandemic

The report here shown details the utility affordability crisis that exists in the United States, with statistics on customers most affected and the degree to which low-income households face utility in-affordability. The crisis documented in the...Read more

Lifting the High Energy Burden in America’s Largest Cities: How Energy Efficiency Can Improve Low Income and Underserved Communities

This report provides a snapshot of energy burdens in cities across the US. It focuses on the high home energy burdens faced by select groups in major metropolitan areas. Years of analysis by the firm of Fisher Sheehan & Colton determined that low-income households pay proportionally more...Read more

New Geoelectric Hazard Map Shows Potential Vulnerability to High-Voltage Power Grid for Two-Thirds of the US

How do we secure our power grid in the event of nationwide blackout? The point of this article is to explore the vulnerabilities that could be faced by many parts of the nation in the event of a geomagnetic superstorm. A map was created with power grids across the country and shows their...Read more

2017 LIHEAP Advocate's Guide - National Low Income Housing Coalition

This document is a 2017 advocates guide for the federal LIHEAP program, produced by the National Low Income Housing Coalition. It provides a synopsis of the history/purpose for the LIHEAP program, a program summary, a funding forecast for the program in 2017, and talking points for advocates...Read more

This initiative from Philadelphia Energy Authority is connecting programs and organizations to support homeowners in low-income housing

This article, published in August of 2021, is about a new program being piloted by the Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA), called the Build to Last Program. PEA is hoping to make the energy assistance network in Philadelphia less siloed by connecting homeowners who apply to...Read more

Living without power: Health impacts of utility shutoffs in California

This report by TURN discusses all of the impacts created by the problematic policy of shutting utilities off for residential customers. Beyond a discussion on health impacts, the report also considers the already precarious conditions of the communities that experience the highest rates of...Read more

A Pandemic and Surging Summer Heat Leave Thousands Struggling to Pay Utility Bills

This article is particularly relevant to investigations on energy vulnerability, but also particularly relevant to predictions of compounded vulnerabilities made by the research group before the first round of interviews. For example, one of the people interviewed said she was forced to shut her...Read more

Philadelphia Launches New, Income-Based, Tiered Assistance Program

On June 20th, 2017, the city of Philadelphia announced the Tiered Assistance Program (TAP) which provides customers with significant savings on their water bill by offering a consistent bill based on their income. Program highlights include:

•    Customers do not have to be...Read more

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