Energy Burden: Resources and Information
Energy Burden: Resources and Information
Energy burden is…
- Choosing between food and heat.
- Needing a coat inside because you can’t afford new windows.
- Always being the last neighborhood to get power back on.
More than 30 million Americans are living with a high “energy burden” and struggle to pay their utility bills each month. High energy burden results when households spend more than 6 percent of their income on energy bills. This is partly due to home inefficiencies from poor insulation, leaky roofs and outdated appliances. Because of a history of redlining and segregation, Black families are more likely to live in older, drafty homes and neighborhoods that lack shade. In Detroit, 1 in 4 households have an energy burden well above the national average. There are resources to help.
Resources: Bills and Energy Efficiency Assistance
DTE Energy Efficiency Programs
- For single-family homes/limited income
- For multi-family homes/limited income
- For those with incomes higher than eligibility threshold for limited income programs.
Assistance From Other Organizations
- Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency provides energy assistance and home weatherization to reduce energy use and lower utility bills to income eligible customers. All services to qualified applicants are free.
- The Salvation Army provides energy assistance and other services to low-income customers.
- The State Emergency Relief program provides immediate help to households who meet federal income guidelines and have a past-due energy bill.
- The Heat and Warmth Fund provides energy assistance and other services to customers who are past due or disconnected.
- Michigan 2-1-1 is a free confidential service linking people with local community-based organizations across the state to help with energy assistance and other needs. To learn more, call 211.
Informational and Educational Resources
- From Redlining to Restorative Justice: Anti-Black racism and energy insecurity go hand in hand in America (February 2021)
- Climate Justice is Energy Justice
- American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy: Energy Burdens in Detroit (September 2020)
- Fact Sheet: Redlining, Racism and Energy Burden
Photo at the top of the page by Jim West