US electricity disconnections surge 28% amid record heat and rising costs
Low-income households face impossible choices between power and basic necessities during extreme heatwaves.
1Record heat meets rising costs
July 2026 became the hottest month ever recorded in the US, coinciding with a 28% surge in electricity disconnections across 10 states compared to July 2024. Data shows 173,598 households lost power, with low-income families disproportionately affected. The National Energy Assistance Directors Association reports many are forced to choose between paying energy bills and buying food or medicine.
2Southern states bear the brunt
While 23 states and DC have heat-related disconnection protections, 27 states allow shutoffs regardless of temperature. Southern states like Texas, Florida, Oklahoma and Louisiana show particularly high disconnection rates. Federal data reveals 13.4 million household shutoffs in 2024, with one in six US households now behind on energy payments and at risk of losing power.
3Life-altering heat impacts
Interviews reveal how extreme heat changes daily life: a 70-year-old Texas woman limits AC to one room despite $600 monthly bills; a North Carolina parent fears taking children outside; an Austin resident spends 36% of her $550 income on electricity. Many report cutting essentials like food and medicine to keep power, with some experiencing health consequences from heat exposure.
4Energy assistance under threat
The Trump administration seeks to eliminate the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which currently allocates 80% of funds to winter heating. Congress has blocked complete defunding, but obligated funds remain frozen. Phoenix's mayor notes this comes as administration policies favor expensive coal over cheaper renewables, exacerbating energy affordability issues.
5Political gridlock on solutions
While the White House claims focus on lowering electricity prices through coal and natural gas, mayors report worsening climate impacts. New York and Boston describe increasing heatwaves, floods and air quality issues. Municipal responses include cooling centers, tree planting and early warning systems, but federal policy remains misaligned with a hotter climate reality.
6Structural energy market issues
Electricity prices have risen since 2021 due to AI data center demand and grid upgrade costs. The US-Israel attack on Iran worsened global energy disruptions, adding $100 billion in gasoline costs. Despite Trump dismissing climate and cost concerns, electricity prices continue rising faster than inflation, creating unsustainable burdens for vulnerable households.
7Health consequences emerge
Maine resident Erin Hutchins reports permanent health damage from repeated heatstroke, worsened by inadequate cooling in her older building. Like many on fixed incomes, she sacrifices other necessities to pay over $100 monthly electricity bills. Medical professionals warn such cases will multiply as extreme heat becomes more frequent and prolonged across the US.
8Urban heat island effects
Cities face compounded challenges, with New York and Phoenix recording their hottest summers. Boston's mayor noted additional strain from World Cup visitors during 250th anniversary events. Municipal cooling strategies include water features, shade trees and public cooling centers, but these local measures struggle against systemic energy affordability and climate change pressures.
9Winter cost crisis looms
With summer's record heat passed, attention turns to winter heating costs. NEADA warns heating oil bills may rise 50% in the Northeast, requesting $3 billion more for LIHEAP. The organization highlights how current policies fail to address both summer cooling and winter heating needs, leaving vulnerable populations exposed to dangerous temperature extremes year-round.