The Low-Income Energy Burden of Atlanta Households
The US Southeast, Georgia, and Atlanta face multifaceted energy consumption and income challenges that contribute to high energy burdens in the region. Nationally, Atlanta ranks 4th highest in median energy burden levels (behind Memphis, New Orleans & Birmingham) and 3rd highest among low income household populations. Atlanta’s high energy burden is particularly acute among low income, African-American and renter households and is concentrated within 6 of 25 zip codes. Regression analysis points to predictors of energy burden in Atlanta that are associated with the “poverty cycle”.
The Georgia Tech Energy Burden Project seeks to address the following problem statements:
- What are the primary drivers & baseline attributes of the high energy burden in Atlanta?
- What are the most impactful or promising community, education, rate, and/or finance oriented initiatives for alleviating energy burden circumstances of single and multi-family residents (with meter access) below the poverty line that might be applicable in the Atlanta area?
- What are the business case and policy drivers that potentially can offer greater scale to
- identified approaches and solutions to energy burdened customers in our targeted area?
