I’m a N.J. doctor, there’s a medical emergency hiding in your utility bill

By Brian Lestini

As a physician, I understand that when families in New Jersey open their utility bills, they face more than just sticker shock — they confront a hidden health crisis.

Energy insecurity , defined as the inability to adequately meet household energy needs, affects as many as 1 in 3 U.S. households, and roughly 25 million households forego food or medicine needs in order to pay for energy. In 2014, more than 3 million households had their energy service disconnected because they could not afford their bills, and since that time the problem has only grown.

This energy insecurity results in devastating trade-offs as families, struggling to keep the lights or air conditioning on, often cut back on medications, delay doctor visits, or forego healthy food.

The health impacts