In recent years, summers in the US have become extremely hot. Heatwaves pose a danger to people’s health. Doctors treat children and the elderly suffering from heatstroke every summer. Air conditioning is turning into a life-saving tool.
But millions of Americans cannot use it. In 2020, nearly 34 million households could not pay for electricity. Many had to cut food or medicine expenses to cover their energy bills.
Low-income families suffer the most. They spend 10% of their income on energy, which is much higher than the national average. As a result, many only turn on the AC when absolutely necessary.
The “Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program” (Liheap), created by the US Congress in 1981, provided $4.1 billion annually to help millions of low-income families. But in 2025, the program’s staff was cut, and the administration announced plans to shut it down entirely. Experts warn that this decision threatens the lives of hundreds of thousands of families.
Due to climate change, heatwaves are expected to intensify. That is why access to energy is becoming increasingly vital for saving lives.
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