The effects of global warming continue to manifest in new and alarming ways. Shorelines are eroding and destroying homes, airline workers have been injured from exploding soda cans, and hospitals are overwhelmed with patients suffering from heat-related illnesses.
And now, climate change is coming for American pantries. Indeed, one in three American households are cutting back on groceries to help pay for their utility bills as 75% of them expect their expenses to increase during the summer and “cause them financial strain.” The figures are according to survey results of 2,000 U.S. adults by PowerSetter, an energy comparison platform that educates consumers about different energy plans and options. For context, July 22 was the hottest day recorded on earth, according to satellite data.
“Extreme heat is driving higher energy consumption. Households are more likely to turn up the AC amid the raging heat wave, which increases their energy consumption and associated expenses,” Mark Feygin, founder and CEO of PowerSetter, tells Fortune. “However, the problem doesn’t end there, as utility providers have been forced to increase their prices to keep up with inflation. While many consumers are cutting back on electricity usage because they simply can’t afford the growing bills, they still might end up paying more than the year before.”
In some of the hottest states in the U.S., including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana, consumers can expect to pay an average of $858 on their June through September bills, according to National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) forecasts. West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Delaware, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., can expect to pay $723, which accounts for 16% to 23% of the average salary in these states.
Not only are Americans cutting their grocery budgets to cover the mounting utility costs, but one in three households are also spending less on outdoor dining and entertainment such as concerts, events, and paying for streaming services to be able afford their AC, survey results show. Plus, about 20% are canceling their summer vacations, and nearly 50% are making other budget cuts to make ends meet.
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fortune.com/2024/07/29/why-air-conditioning-bills-so-expensive/