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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Impact of rising residential energy prices on the low-income population: an analysis of the home-heating problem and policy alternatives

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7366609

The effect of rapidly rising residential energy prices, specifically for home-heating fuels, on the lower income population is explored, and various policy alternatives to ameliorate this impact are analyzed. The study is also a response to a Congressional request to study the feasibility of a ''fuel stamp'' program. The introductory section provides a summary of the findings of the paper. The second section analyzes the costs of home-heating and the particular needs of the low income population. In Section III, the responses to rising energy prices of programs such as Food Stamps, Aid to Families with Dependent Children, Emergency Assistance, Supplemental Security Income, and State and local assistance programs are reviewed. Section IV examines a number of policy alternatives designed either to provide additional purchasing power to low income households to meet necessary utility costs or to encourage the reduced consumption of home heating fuels through improvements in the thermal efficiency of living quarters. Section V examines certain proposed new programs, including a number of ''fuel stamp'' proposals motivated by the rise in residential energy prices. (GRA)

Research Organization:
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Washington, D.C. (USA); U.S. Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Office of Income Security Policy, Washington, DC
OSTI ID:
7366609
Report Number(s):
PB-245206; FEA/E-74/569
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English