© SOPA Images
Photo illustration in Ukraine – 04 Apr 2021
(77WABC) — Industry experts say that the United States is facing a looming crisis of utility shutoffs, with a record number of households falling behind on their power bills.
According to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, about 20 million U.S. households are behind on their utility bills, the most on record. Electricity prices have also soared due to rising costs for natural gas, which has skyrocketed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February.
At the same time, inflation is sending the prices of groceries and everyday necessities soaring, and many households have had to make tough choices about whether to pay utility bills or put food on the table.
According to Commerce Department data, in July, the average price of electricity in the US hit a record-high $0.166 per kilowatt hour, a 4 percent jump from the prior month and up 16 percent from a year ago.
