As summers grow deadlier and electric bills surge, here's what to know about utility shutoffs

"As the cost of electricity outpaces inflation and summers grow deadlier, consumer advocates are sounding alarms about the risks to low-income people who can't afford consistent air conditioning in dangerous temperatures. While about half of U.S. states offer protections from utility shutoffs during extreme heat, the rest do not. In contrast, 41 states have "cold weather rules," which forbid utility companies from shutting off household heat during extreme cold."

""It was amazing at keeping people's electricity on in the winter," she said of the program, which subsidizes costs for households who can't afford utility expenses."

""Families would be deciding between paying their heating bill or another bill, and this took that decision away.""

""There's a 'cold weather rule' - in freezing temperatures, your heat can't be turned off. But there isn't an equivalent for summer in Kansas.""

Rising electricity costs and deadlier summers create growing health risks for low-income households that cannot afford consistent air conditioning. About half of U.S. states lack protections against utility shutoffs during extreme heat, while 41 states prohibit heat shutoffs in extreme cold through "cold weather rules." Federal and local assistance programs prioritize winter heating needs, leaving fewer resources available for summer cooling. Case managers report that winter subsidies often prevent dire choices, but summer shutoffs still occur, affecting families with young children, pregnant people, and those who rely on electricity for medical equipment.

Read at Fast Company