Title: I Can't Pay My Electric Bill: Where to Get Help
Headings: I Can’t Pay My Electric Bill: Where to Get Help
I Can’t Pay My Electric Bill: Where to Get Help
Learn About Electric Bill Help
Emergency Payment Assistance
Help paying utility bills can come from three different sectors:
Utility Bill Assistance During COVID-19
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
How to Qualify for Energy Assistance
Charity Aid
These are some of the organizations you will be referred to:
Electricity Shut Off Laws
Utility Company Programs
What Can You Do If Your Electricity is Shut Off

Content: The U.S. Energy Information Administration said in a 2018 release that seven million households have to decide every month between food, medicine or paying the utility bill. The average electric bill in 2018 in the U.S. was $117.65 per month. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, energy costs consume between 5% and 22% of a family’s monthly budget. You can try all sorts of tips and tricks to lower that number, but even a relatively low bill can be a heavy burden for some families. Low-income families pay an average of 9.92% and as much as 22% of their income on electricity alone. Compare that to a national average of 7.2%. This is often referred to as a household’s “energy burden.” Low-income households — meaning those earning less than 80% of the area median income — in many Southeast states face energy burdens of 10% or higher. In five states with the highest low-income energy burden — Mississippi, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia and Arkansas — low-income households use 36% more electricity than the low-income national average. Typically, an electric bill is due 21 days after the meter is read.