In the U.S., working from home has already increased residential demand for electricity by as much as 15% in some regions during work hours, according to Innowatts, which consults for utilities and monitors 34 million electric meters.
But the first few months of the pandemic were during the spring. As air conditioners kick into high gear, those figures will be much higher.
Hot Spots
In New York, Consolidated Edison Inc. has already warned customers that bills will go up about 10% this summer to a monthly average of $110. In California’s baking-hot Central Valley, the average bill may exceed $200, up about 25% from normal, according to Edward Randolph, head of the energy division at the state’s Public Utilities Commission.
In parts of the U.S. South, electricity usage may climb as much as 30%, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. That includes Arizona, Texas and other new hot spots for the virus.
Higher utility bills may force some people to seek shelter in government-run cooling centers or other public buildings, said Jeremiah Bohr, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. That will put them at a greater risk of being exposed to the virus.
“It highlights the larger issue of how difficult it is to make ends meet,” Bohr said.
Barring Shutoffs
Many states including New York and New Jersey have issued orders preventing utilities from cutting off power to people who can’t pay their bills. California has even instituted a debt forgiveness program. But in many places, orders presenting shutoffs are expiring soon. Arrears, meanwhile, are piling up.
“In the best of times, millions of people get disconnected from the grid, and that skews heavily to low-income households,” said Charlie Harak, senior attorney for energy and utilities issues at the National Consumer Law Center. “It’s about to get very hot.”