The poorest among us pay more than they can afford for their power bills.  
Economists call it an “affordability gap” when a household spends more than 6 percent of annual income on utilities. Many low-income households pay a much higher percentage. That means energy bills force hard decisions in other areas. 

Inside Energy’s Dan Boyce says the most desperate time can be the spring when power bills from the winter start piling up.

High Utility Costs Force Hard Decisions For The Poor

Inside Energy was a public media collaboration, funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, that produced from 2014-2017. Our audio stories will help inform you of the tensions and tradeoffs in American energy issues. Don’t miss our podcast: http://insideenergy.org/podcast

News

Is having oil and gas development nearby bad for your health? In this story, we’re going to dig into what is known and what is unknown about these dangers and why those unknowns still exist, as more and more wells are drilled. We’re going to meet different people with different perspectives, who are all gathering data or studying it. They’re looking for answers and living with unknowns.

Living With Uncertainty- An Inside Energy Podcast Special

A natural gas boom in the U.S. is changing the power sector in the country. It's credited with bringing down American carbon dioxide emissions more than any other factor. But, one difficult to control component of the natural gas industry threatens to undermine those gains. This audio special from Inside Energy explores the serious and persistent problem of methane leaks.

Invisible Leaks: Where "Clean" Natural Gas Falls Short

Tax reform is going to impact renewables, oil and gas, and energy overall in the western U.S. Now that the President has signed the final tax bill into law, what does it mean for western energy? Inside Energy helps unpack.

Tax Reform's Impact On Western Energy

Four stories chronicling the growing conflict between oil and gas drilling and suburban development, in the aftermath of an April 2017 natural gas explosion in Firestone, Colorado that resulted in the death of two people. Submitted in the "Continuing Coverage" category for the 2018 RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Awards.

2017 Continuing Coverage: Firestone Explosion

President Donald Trump has used the term “clean coal” a lot lately, but what is clean coal? Well, it can mean a lot of different things, depending who you ask. For some, it's history. For others, it's a fantasy. And for still others, it's a necessity. But could it become a reality that helps bring back coal and helps stop climate change? Inside Energy’s Madelyn Beck digs deep.

High Utility Costs Force Hard Decisions For The Poor

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