The States
In January, Public Utilities Fortnightly sent a three-question multiple-choice survey to the two hundred utility Commissioners of the fifty states and the District of Columbia. Twenty percent of the Commissioners completed the anonymous survey.
On the first question, about two-fifths of the Commissioners said to use energy burden to define energy affordability. More than two-fifths said they use a mix of quantitative and qualitative measures.
On the second question, more than half of the Commissioners said energy affordability is a major factor in their work at the Commission but that there are other factors too. More than a quarter said energy affordability is top of mind in all they do.
On the third question, about half of the Commissioners said special rates or bill caps, need-tested, can address energy affordability. More than a quarter said energy efficiency and bill assistance can address affordability rather than special rates or caps.
Survey results
Affordability by the Numbers articles at fortnightly.com:
- State Utility Commissioners' Survey on Affordability
- Energy Affordability by the Numbers: State Data
- More Energy Affordability by the Numbers: Residential Electric, Gas
- Still More Energy Affordability by the Numbers: CPI, Electricity, Gas
