Nearly One Million Connecticut Residents Can't Pay Utility Bill, Author Of New Report Finds

[TexasTowelie]

For the second consecutive year the gap between what Connecticut's low-income households pay for energy and what they can afford has decreased, according to a new report. But more than 320,000 households in Connecticut still can't afford to pay their utility bills.

Operation Fuel, a nonprofit emergency energy assistance agency, released its 11th annual report Wednesday outlining the state's home energy affordability gap.

According to economist Roger Colton, who authored the report, the gap for state families at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level stands at $399 million. The gap is what those families can't afford to pay and amounts to about $1,240 per household.

"That means nearly one million Connecticut residents have unaffordable energy bills," said Colton, who credited lower natural gas and oil prices for reducing the gap.

Read more: http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-operation-fuel-energy-affordability-gap-1208-20161206-story.html

[Travis_0004]

1. connecticut can not get a natural gas pipeline approved

And they are shutting down nuclear, and coal plants. Good for the environment, but its not free.

I just feel sorry for anybody who has to use home heating oil. That shit is expensive.

[Docreed2003]

3. Natural gas...although cheaper than oil...is still expensive

We recently moved from RI and our natural gas bill in the winter months swallowed up the majority of our disposable income. It was insane how expensive it was and if you happened to run out during a storm and need a fill up of your tank, that was another outrageous bill. That is one of the few things I don't miss about New England. With the shift of the jet stream due to warming artic air, you can surely expect many more brutal winters to come to New England.

[Travis_0004]

4. Im assuming you had propane

Natural gas is usually a line connected to your house so you cant run out. It has a meter, so you pay for exactly what you use every month.

[lonestarnot]

2. Maybe government subsidized solar would work?