Surviving a Shut-Off: U.S. Households at Greatest Risk of Utility Disconnections and How They Cope

Abstract

This is the first known study to estimate household characteristics and coping behaviors associated with utility disconnections in the United States. We capitalize on a measure of disconnections available in the Residential Energy Consumption Survey that is administered by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Using the 2015 panel, we analyzed the prevalence of disconnection notices, disconnection of services, and related coping strategies, including: forgoing basic necessities, maintaining an unhealthy home temperature, and receiving energy assistance. Findings indicate that nearly 15% of U.S. households received a disconnection notice and 3%—more than three million households—experienced a service disconnection in 2015. Our results further demonstrate that more households resorted to forgoing basic necessities than maintaining an unhealthy temperature or receiving energy assistance, though many families used a combination of strategies to prevent or respond to the threat or experience of being disconnected. We discuss implications for future research on material hardships, survival strategies, and the health impacts of poverty.