1997 Energy Bills and Burden: Young or Old the Poor Face Hardship

Electricity Bills and Energy Burden by Age of Householder and Income Group

 

 

 

AGE: 

18-54 (66.2 Million HH)

 

    55-64 (12.8 Million HH) 

 

 

65-74 (12 Million HH)

 

 

75 & Older (10.4 million HH)

 

 

 

Mean

Median

Percentile 75

 

Mean

Median

Percentile

 75

 

Mean

Median

Percentile 75

 

Mean

Median

Percentile 75

Eligible for Low Income Heat Help?

No

Total Electricity Expenditures

 $   954.91

 $   848.00

 $         1,207

 

 $   988

 $   872

 $       1,259

 

 $   916

 $     837

 $         1,119

 

 $   783

 $     650

 $            977

Total Electricity Burden

2%

2%

3%

 

2%

2%

3%

 

3%

2%

4%

 

3%

2%

4%

Total Energy Expenditures

 $1,435.41

 $1,339.00

 $         1,772

 

 $1,550

 $1,441

 $       1,909

 

 $1,416

 $  1,318

 $         1,710

 

 $1,291

 $  1,185

 $         1,566

Total Energy Burden

3%

3%

4%

 

4%

3%

5%

 

4%

4%

6%

 

4%

4%

6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes

Total Electricity Expenditures

 $       767

 $       646

 $         1,016

 

 $   779

 $   680

 $       1,011

 

 $   695

 $     598

 $            819

 

 $   599

 $     529

 $            737

Total Electricity Burden

9%

5%

9%

 

9%

6%

9%

 

8%

6%

9%

 

8%

6%

10%

Total Energy Expenditures

 $     1,154

 $     1,071

 $         1,469

 

 $1,193

 $1,085

 $       1,626

 

 $1,132

 $  1,058

 $         1,465

 

 $1,071

 $     998

 $         1,357

Total Energy Burden

13%

8%

13%

 

14%

10%

14%

 

13%

10%

15%

 

15%

11%

17%

 

 

Source: Data from the US DOE Residential Energy Consumption Survey, 1997

Prepared at the Request of AARP Federal Policy Section

March 2002