(AURN News) — As winter continues, some parts of the country are seeing a warmup, with above-normal temperatures stretching across much of the United States. That could mean short-term relief when it comes to heating costs. However, utility prices continue to rise, with little indication they will decrease.
According to a report from the nonprofit organization PowerLines, nearly 80 million people in the U.S. are struggling to pay their utility bills. The report shows electricity bills have risen 30% since 2021, while gas bills have increased 40% since 2019.
“While some consumers may have access to federal and state programs that provide assistance for low-income consumers to pay their utility bills, these programs are insufficient to fully address the magnitude of the problem,” the report said.
PowerLines said the problem is expected to worsen, with utility prices projected to continue rising in the years ahead.
Click play to listen to the AURN News report from Jamie Jackson:
