Record-Breaking Summer Heat Drives Up US Household Energy Bills
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Scorching summer temperatures in the southern US are causing a surge in household electricity consumption, leading to soaring energy costs, according to government data cited by OilPrice.
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) report indicates that the average American household typically spends around $262 annually on air conditioning. However, in the hot and humid southeastern states, those costs have surged to as high as $525.
In early July, the US National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) estimated that this summer's home energy expenses would rise by nearly 12%, reaching an average of $578 compared to $517 the previous summer. The southwest central region faced the highest average costs at $706, while the Pacific Coast experienced the lowest at $499.
Data underscores that nearly 90% of US households use air conditioning (AC), with two-thirds relying on central AC or central heat pumps as their primary AC equipment. In 2020, the Midwest Census Region and South Census Region boasted the highest percentages of households using AC, at 92% and 93%, respectively.
NEADA Executive Director Mark Wolfe stated, "My sense is that we will have record cooling costs this summer," attributing these costs to increased demand for combating high temperatures, rather than price hikes. The association advocates for programs aiding low-income families with utility payments.
Data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service confirmed that July 2023 became the hottest month on record.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a stark warning, asserting that climate change had reached a "terrifying" level, with the era of global warming evolving into a period of "global boiling."
The World Health Organization has also cautioned about the potential for "extreme weather events" in 2023, foreseeing a substantial increase in droughts, floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters.
The US grapples with the deadliest wildfires in over a century, with 93 fatalities reported on the Hawaiian Island of Maui alone. In West Maui, approximately 2,200 buildings have been destroyed, leading to damage costs nearing $6 billion, according to the state's Governor, Josh Green.
