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As US' Hottest Summer Cools, Many Face Staggering Power Bills
Newser • • business
Key Points:
- The hottest US summer on record has led to a surge in unpaid energy bills, with about one in six US households behind on payments, causing a looming fall shutoff season as consumer protections expire.
- In McAlester, Oklahoma, residents like Genia Weitz face exorbitant electric bills—Weitz received a $1,340 bill she must pay within nine days, despite earning less than that monthly.
- Utility provider PSO struggles to balance extreme heat, grid upgrades, and increased demand from data centers, while families reduce their cooling to a single room to manage costs.
- Saslow’s report highlights three generations employing various survival tactics: a disabled grandmother seeking medical delays, a working daughter incurring debt for air conditioning, and a young mother on a prepaid plan managing intermittent power.
- Local churches, charities, and neighbors are overwhelmed by the crisis, underscoring the broader challenge of energy affordability and access amid rising temperatures and aging infrastructure.
