Energy affordability crisis hits Black households

For many African American families, the cost of keeping the lights on and homes heated or cooled is not just a monthly bill; it’s a crushing financial burden that’s all too familiar — especially for District residents.

A recent analysis by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) shows that SNAP-eligible households spend more than 20% of their income on energy bills. Across the metro area, nearly two-thirds of low-income households devote more than 6% of their income to energy, and 40% face what researchers call a “severe financial strain,” paying more than 10%.

Now, a new national study from Binghamton University and California State University, San Bernardino, finds that Black households spend a far larger share of their income on energy compared to white households, even when