Impact of rising residential energy prices on the low-income population: an analysis of the home-heating problem and short-run policy alternatives. Technical Analysis Paper No. 3

Technical Report · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EDT 1975

OSTI ID:5911028

Barth, M C; Mills, G; Seagrave, C; Gottschalk, P; Peskin, J

This paper explores the effect of rapidly rising home-heating costs on the lower income population and analyzes various short-run policy alternatives to ameliorate this impact. Determinants of home heating costs, including climate, housing characteristics type of fuel used, and fuel prices, are explored, and regional variations in home heating cost increases are traced. The home-heating problem faced by low-income households is examined, and it is noted that their homeheating needs are lower than those of other income classes because they are more likely to live in warmer climates and occupy smaller homes. Additionally, they are less likely to live in single-unit dwellings. However, while actual dollar increases in cost may be somewhat smaller for the poor, the proportion of their income spent on home heating needs is much higher than for the non-poor. Thus, low-income households are likely to suffer greater hardships in meeting fuel increases. Current income-transfer programs are found to be responsive to these rising costs in various ways and degrees.

• Research Organization: Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Washington, DC (USA). Office of Income Security Policy
• OSTI ID: 5911028
• Report Number(s): SHR-0012345/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320101 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Residential Buildings-- (-1987)
COST
ENERGY EXPENSES
HEATING
HUMAN POPULATIONS
LOW INCOME GROUPS
MINORITY GROUPS
POPULATIONS
RESIDENTIAL SECTOR
SPACE HEATING