Residents in Henderson, Kentucky, are pushing back against proposed electricity rate increases, warning that some households are already choosing between buying groceries and keeping the lights on.
Here's what to know
Residents asked whether more assistance could be made available to low-income customers facing higher electricity bills. Henderson Municipal Power & Light officials said the proposed increases could total roughly 20% over a couple of years, according to 14 News.
Taylor Heady, a Henderson resident who helps low-income people, told commissioners about the requests she receives for help with electricity bills.
"I get messages in my inbox and just yesterday I went through and in the last two months alone I had 30 messages of people reaching out saying we had to pick between groceries or utility bill and we're sitting in the dark," Heady said.
She feared how the proposed increases would affect households already facing those choices.
More background
Renters cannot always make improvements that could help lower their electricity costs.
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Henderson resident Joseph Hortin described how little control he has over those improvements in his home.
"There are programs for homeowners to help decrease their rates," Hortin said. "I live in Pebble Creek Apartments. I don't have that option. I can't go and get better insulation in my ceilings. I can't go upgrade my HVAC unit. I'm really at the mercy of what Pebble Creek will do."
What's being done?
HMP&L will have time to provide more data before commissioners are expected to vote at another meeting, according to 14 News. Commissioners tabled the decision after hearing residents' concerns, saying they were not comfortable voting.
Heady said her efforts to connect people with assistance programs have run into eligibility restrictions because they had already received help.
"And I reach out and I reach out and I try to find all these programs that are apparently available and they'll say we already helped them two months ago. They're not eligible."
Where can I learn more?
Rising utility bills are straining household budgets beyond Henderson, too. These stories detail proposed rate increases and affordability concerns in Baltimore, San Diego, Virginia, and Maryland.
• In Baltimore, BGE seeks a $156 million rate hike as residents face painful trade-offs.
• SDG&E's proposed increase could add $22 a month to typical San Diego bills.
• In Richlands, Virginia, $1,000 utility bills tied to generator debt are forcing families to skip groceries.
• In Virginia, small businesses warn that a 23% rate hike would deepen their financial strain.
• Maryland households face a 5.3% power bill hike under Potomac Edison's proposed $52.8 million increase.
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