Medicine or Electricity?

Americans Shouldn't Have to Make the Choice

A woman pays for her groceries at a store in San Leandro, CA. As home energy and gasoline costs rise, more Americans are forced to cut spending on basic necessities such as food, with low-income families the most affected.

The National Energy Assistance Directors' Association released a new energy costs survey last week, and the report found that high energy prices are squeezing nearly all households nationwide, and low-income families and individuals are being hit the hardest.

Low-income households typically spend a greater percentage of their income on utilities than those in higher income brackets, and as prices rise, they are having to make increasingly difficult choices in order to keep the lights shining, the water flowing, and the stove running.

As home energy and gasoline prices increase, low-income households—defined as families of four with a yearly income below $32,604—are having to make serious cutbacks on basic necessities in order to make ends meet:

• 31 percent of low-income households report maintaining unsafe or unhealthy home temperatures in order to lower energy bills.
• 29 percent risked loss of home energy service due to skipped or partial payments.
• 31 percent have reduced spending on medicine.
• 70 percent have reduced spending on food.
• 65 percent have lowered their purchases of other basic household necessities.

These cutbacks on necessities are not simple inconveniences. They are detrimental to the health and well-being of vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly, disabled, and children.

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