It is perhaps self-evident that low-income households are more likely to find themselves vulnerable to climate change and the extreme weather that it encourages. Research from UCLA highlights how such homes are most likely to have their power disconnected after periods of high temperatures.

“For low-income households, having just one hot day during the August billing period can lead to a 1.2% increase in the chance of being disconnected in October,” the researchers say.

Feeling the heat

The study highlights how low-income households have particular difficulties adjusting to extreme heat as heavier use of air conditioning leads to higher bills, which they struggle to meet. Indeed, often these households have to go without food or other necessities instead.

By contrast, if households forgo the use of air conditioning, this could result in heat-related problems. That’s if homes have air conditioning in the first place, of course, and the researchers cite data showing that 20% of households in Los Angeles do without aircon.

“We don’t want people to stop using energy, because we need them to be adapting and protecting themselves,” the researchers continue. “And we simultaneously want there to be little financial distress later on when they get their bill.”

The researchers found that the average electricity bill during the summer was $101.66, but every day when the temperature was at least 95 degrees Fahrenheit, the average bill rose by $1.60. If the temperature was over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the increase was $2.92 per day.

Over the edge

While these increases may seem small, they can easily tip a low-income family over the edge. This is a significant risk, with the researchers citing data suggesting that up to 70% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, which makes dealing with unexpected expenses impossible.

The researchers believe their findings demonstrate how climate change could make matters worse. Indeed, they argue that if our current climate predictions run true, then low-income households will be at a 12% higher risk of being disconnected than they are today.

“The benefit we’ll have in terms of avoiding financial distress and having people protect themselves vastly outweigh any small increase in energy consumption,” the researchers explain. “Especially for this population, energy consumption is inelastic. It is a necessity.”