Protecting Families from Higher Costs

One in Four U.S. Households Struggle to Pay their Current Energy Bills

One in four U.S. households struggle to pay their current energy bills, forgoing basic needs throughout the year, and even keeping homes at unsafe temperatures to get by. Therefore, we must ensure our clean energy buildout doesn’t disproportionately affect those already struggling.

A 2020 report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) found low-income and minority households across the United States are disproportionately energy burdened:

Low-income households spend three times more of their income on energy costs compared to the median spending of non-low-income households (8.1% versus 2.3%).
The median energy burden for Black households is 43% higher than for non-Hispanic white households (4.2% versus 2.9%)
The median energy burden for Hispanic households is 20% higher than that for non-Hispanic white households (3.5% versus 2.9%).

Natural gas is the most affordable and reliable energy source that keeps customer bills low, particularly for those on fixed incomes, and people at or near the poverty line.

Nearly half of all U.S. households rely on it for their primary heating, and costs are at the lowest level in decades.

Key Resources Around Affordability

Progressive Policy Institute Report Underscores Importance Of Pragmatic Approach – Including Natural Gas – to Cut Costs and Emissions

A 2025 report from the Progressive Policy Institute found Black households face energy insecurity at over twice the rate of white households. To achieve true environmental justice, PPI is calling on Congress, State legislatures, and local governments to enact permitting reform to expand and modernize natural gas infrastructure—cutting costs and emissions, especially for America’s most vulnerable communities.

“For Black Bostonians, the most tangible impact of opposition to transmission and natural gas projects from nearby New York, Maine, and New Hampshire is the burden of higher electricity prices,” writes Elan Sykes at the Progressive Policy Institute.

Neel Brown, Managing Director of the Progressive Policy Institute, shared findings from PPI’s new report on energy insecurity and climate impacts that are disproportionately impacting Black households across the United States at CERAWeek 2025.

3.5X

Real Savings

Natural gas is 3.5x more affordable than electricity

$1,132

Real Savings

Households using natural gas for heating, cooking, and clothes drying save ~$1,132 per year compared to homes relying on electricity.

$159B

Real Savings

Over the past decade, natural gas has saved families $159 billion while saving businesses more than $500 billion

$454

Real Savings

In Winter 2024/2025, the Federal Energy Information Administration found households using natural gas to heat their homes saved an average of $454 more than those who heat via electricity.

Natural Gas Provides Grid Reliability while Balancing the Costs Needed to Expand Renewable Investments Further

Building a pathway to a low-carbon future by 2050 requires massive costs to rapidly invest in energy infrastructure – not just the installation of wind turbines and solar panels – but thousands of miles of new transmission lines, upgrades to homes including appliances and electric boxes, home retrofits, battery storage, electric vehicle infrastructure, and more.

A Progressive Policy Institute report highlights that a push to go renewable-only becomes far more cost prohibitive because of the need for overbuilding part-time energy sources like wind and solar, to ensure adequate capacity is available to meet peak demand. Putting all of our eggs in one basket – via 100% renewables – “is unwise… [exposing] Americans to high electricity prices and potentially periodic energy shortages…”

Natural gas, with an existing and efficient infrastructure network of 2.5 million miles, can best balance the transition with low-cost, clean and reliable energy.

California Study Highlights Natural Gas Bans Put the Cost Burden on the Backs of the Poor

Additionally, as some communities move to ban natural gas locally, a 2020 study by the California Energy Commission found shutting down the natural gas system disproportionately impacts those least able to afford to transition to more expensive, all-electric sources. They wrote “unsustainable increases in gas rates and customer energy bills could be seen after 2030, negatively affecting customers who are least able to switch away from gas, including renters and low-income residents.”

Affordable Natural Gas

Helps Balance the Costs Needed to Transition to a Clean Energy Future

One in Four U.S. Households Struggle to Pay their Current Energy Bills

Nearly half of all U.S. households rely on it for their primary heating, and costs are at the lowest level in decades.

Key Resources Around Affordability

Progressive Policy Institute Report Underscores Importance Of Pragmatic Approach – Including Natural Gas – to Cut Costs and Emissions

Real Savings

Real Savings

Real Savings

Real Savings

Natural Gas Provides Grid Reliability while Balancing the Costs Needed to Expand Renewable Investments Further

California Study Highlights Natural Gas Bans Put the Cost Burden on the Backs of the Poor

Affordable Natural Gas

Helps Balance the Costs Needed to Transition to a Clean Energy Future

One in Four U.S. Households Struggle to Pay their Current Energy Bills

Nearly half of all U.S. households rely on it for their primary heating, and costs are at the lowest level in decades.

Key Resources Around Affordability

Progressive Policy Institute Report Underscores Importance Of Pragmatic Approach – Including Natural Gas – to Cut Costs and Emissions

Real Savings

Real Savings

Real Savings

Real Savings

Natural Gas Provides Grid Reliability while Balancing the Costs Needed to Expand Renewable Investments Further

California Study Highlights Natural Gas Bans Put the Cost Burden on the Backs of the Poor

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