Following COVID-19 and the racial reckoning in the United States since the murder of George Floyd, electric utilities have faced growing calls to bolster their commitments to equity and to address issues of energy affordability.
Advocates say the sector is still not doing enough to address years of lagging investment in low-income communities and to help customers of color struggling with unaffordable bills.
Low-income customers have fallen behind on home energy bills to the tune of more than $16 billion as of August, and experts expect the issue will worsen this winter.
The following articles examine how utilities are responding and what more consumer advocates say is needed. The solution, they say, includes a mix of new approaches to bill management, community clean energy and deep efficiency retrofits.
Electric utilities aren’t doing enough to address inequities in today’s power system, advocates say
How are companies, regulators, NGOs and others ensuring that the energy transition is equitable?
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The energy system is ‘inherently racist,’ advocates say. How are utilities responding to calls for greater equity?
By Robert Walton • Oct. 26, 2022Utility commitments to customer equity, energy affordability and equitable access to clean energy resources are becoming more common, but energy justice advocates say companies need to do more. Read the full article ➔
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Clean energy supply bottlenecks hit overburdened communities the hardest, utilities and advocates say
By Elizabeth McCarthy • Oct. 27, 2022The Inflation Reduction Act and an equity focus should help reverse the trend, however. Read the full article ➔
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Bringing equity to electricity service through home, power sector and regulatory innovation
By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 27, 2022Individual homes can be upgraded, community solar can help to lower bills and regulators can broaden the public engagement process to be more inclusive, consumer advocates say. Read the full article ➔
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Equity framework online tool to help guide investments in line with Justice40, UM researchers say
By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 27, 2022The framework is intended to help utilities, governments, regulators and community groups gauge equity in clean energy programs and investments. Read the full article ➔
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For equitable building electrification, philanthropy-backed fund puts communities in the driver’s seat
By Maria Rachal • Oct. 27, 2022Who designs the energy transition? As cities work to reduce building emissions and spur clean alternatives, the creators of the Equitable Building Electrification Fund believe that decision-making power needs to shift. Read the full article ➔
