Addressing energy insecurity: Policy Considerations for enhancing energy assistance programs
Household energy consumption is crucial for a productive and safe life. Despite its importance, 33.7 million U.S. households experienced energy insecurity in 2020. This paper examines the prevalence, correlates, and effects of energy bill assistance programs, which aim to alleviate the hardship. Thi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024002093 |
| _version_ | 1827348427574345728 |
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| author | Michelle Graff |
| author_facet | Michelle Graff |
| author_sort | Michelle Graff |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Household energy consumption is crucial for a productive and safe life. Despite its importance, 33.7 million U.S. households experienced energy insecurity in 2020. This paper examines the prevalence, correlates, and effects of energy bill assistance programs, which aim to alleviate the hardship. This analysis relies on logistic regressions and the 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey, a nationally representative survey administered by the Energy Information Administration. Results reveal 16 percent of the energy insecure population received assistance to pay its energy bill in 2020. Several socioeconomic and housing characteristics are associated with receipt of assistance; however, logistic regression estimates suggest prior participation in energy assistance and receipt of a disconnection notice from a utility provider are indicators substantively and significantly associated with energy assistance participation that warrant attention from scholars and practitioners. Lastly, outcomes generally indicate previous participation in energy assistance does not impact the odds a household will experience energy insecurity. Based on findings, I offer three policy recommendations: 1) increase resources spent on energy assistance to align with demand; 2) enhance communication between utility providers and low-income households regarding available assistance opportunities; and 3) prioritize engagement with populations that never participated in energy assistance to facilitate successful application processes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:12:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5fa987aaca4f4f3780e130b64cc82a3a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:12:05Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-5fa987aaca4f4f3780e130b64cc82a3a2024-02-17T06:38:03ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402024-02-01103e24178Addressing energy insecurity: Policy Considerations for enhancing energy assistance programsMichelle Graff0Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44115, USAHousehold energy consumption is crucial for a productive and safe life. Despite its importance, 33.7 million U.S. households experienced energy insecurity in 2020. This paper examines the prevalence, correlates, and effects of energy bill assistance programs, which aim to alleviate the hardship. This analysis relies on logistic regressions and the 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey, a nationally representative survey administered by the Energy Information Administration. Results reveal 16 percent of the energy insecure population received assistance to pay its energy bill in 2020. Several socioeconomic and housing characteristics are associated with receipt of assistance; however, logistic regression estimates suggest prior participation in energy assistance and receipt of a disconnection notice from a utility provider are indicators substantively and significantly associated with energy assistance participation that warrant attention from scholars and practitioners. Lastly, outcomes generally indicate previous participation in energy assistance does not impact the odds a household will experience energy insecurity. Based on findings, I offer three policy recommendations: 1) increase resources spent on energy assistance to align with demand; 2) enhance communication between utility providers and low-income households regarding available assistance opportunities; and 3) prioritize engagement with populations that never participated in energy assistance to facilitate successful application processes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024002093Energy assistanceEnergy insecurityEnergy justicePublic assistance |
| spellingShingle | Michelle Graff Addressing energy insecurity: Policy Considerations for enhancing energy assistance programs Heliyon Energy assistance Energy insecurity Energy justice Public assistance |
| title | Addressing energy insecurity: Policy Considerations for enhancing energy assistance programs |
| title_full | Addressing energy insecurity: Policy Considerations for enhancing energy assistance programs |
| title_fullStr | Addressing energy insecurity: Policy Considerations for enhancing energy assistance programs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Addressing energy insecurity: Policy Considerations for enhancing energy assistance programs |
| title_short | Addressing energy insecurity: Policy Considerations for enhancing energy assistance programs |
| title_sort | addressing energy insecurity policy considerations for enhancing energy assistance programs |
| topic | Energy assistance Energy insecurity Energy justice Public assistance |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024002093 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT michellegraff addressingenergyinsecuritypolicyconsiderationsforenhancingenergyassistanceprograms |