Energy Cost & Affordability Guides
30 data-driven guides on electricity rates, energy burden, heating costs, and household efficiency.
What Is the CCM Energy Score? A Complete Guide
The CCM Energy Score is a free 300-850 tool measuring household energy affordability. Here's exactly how it's calculated and what your number means.
Read the guide →CCM Energy Score vs. Credit Score: How They're Alike (and Different)
The CCM Energy Score borrows the familiar 300-850 scale from credit scoring, but measures something completely different. Here's a side-by-side comparison.
Read the guide →How to Improve Your CCM Energy Score in 30 Days
Practical, ranked steps to raise your CCM Energy Score within a month, from no-cost fixes to the highest-ROI upgrades.
Read the guide →What Is Energy Burden? The Metric Utilities Don't Advertise
Energy burden is the percent of household income spent on energy. Here's how it's calculated, why 6% is the line, and where the U.S. stands in 2026.
Read the guide →Energy Burden by State: Where Households Pay the Most (and Least) of Their Income
A state-by-state look at U.S. electricity rates and how they translate into energy burden, using EIA 2026 rate data.
Read the guide →Why Is My Electric Bill So High? 10 Real Reasons, Ranked by Impact
Ranked, honest reasons your electric bill is higher than expected, from HVAC load to your state's rate, with what actually moves the needle.
Read the guide →Electric Bill by State 2026: Full Rate Comparison
A full look at how average residential electricity rates compare across U.S. states in 2026, based on EIA data.
Read the guide →Heat Pump vs. Gas Furnace: The Real 10-Year Cost Comparison
A grounded look at heat pump versus gas furnace costs over 10 years, including efficiency ratios and rebate eligibility.
Read the guide →Heat Pump vs. Electric Baseboard Heat: Which Costs Less to Run
Electric resistance baseboard heat is simple but expensive to run compared to a heat pump. Here's the real efficiency math.
Read the guide →LIHEAP Eligibility Guide: How to Get Help Paying Your Energy Bill
How LIHEAP works, who qualifies, and how to apply for help with home energy bills in your state.
Read the guide →How Much Does It Cost to Run an Air Conditioner All Summer?
A grounded look at what central and window AC units actually cost to run across a summer, and what changes the number most.
Read the guide →How Much Does It Cost to Run a Space Heater All Winter?
What a typical portable space heater actually costs to run across a winter season, with the real math shown.
Read the guide →The Hidden Cost of an Old Refrigerator (And When to Replace It)
How much an aging refrigerator really adds to your electric bill, and the point at which replacement pays for itself.
Read the guide →Solar Panel ROI in 2026: How Fast Do They Actually Pay for Themselves?
A grounded look at solar panel payback periods in 2026, factoring in the federal tax credit and falling system costs.
Read the guide →Is My Electric Bill Normal? Average Electric Bill by Home Size
What counts as a normal electric bill relative to home size, climate, and state, with a framework for judging your own.
Read the guide →Why Northeast Electricity Rates Are the Highest in the Country
The real reasons New England and the broader Northeast pay the most for electricity in the U.S., beyond 'it's just expensive there.'
Read the guide →Why Electricity Is So Cheap in North Dakota (and Other Low-Cost States)
What makes North Dakota, Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming the cheapest states for electricity in the country.
Read the guide →Time-of-Use Electricity Rates Explained: Can They Actually Save You Money?
How time-of-use electricity pricing works, who actually benefits, and who should avoid it.
Read the guide →The Weatherization Assistance Program: Free Home Energy Upgrades Explained
How DOE's Weatherization Assistance Program works, who qualifies, and what upgrades it typically covers.
Read the guide →ENERGY STAR Rebates 2026: Every Federal Tax Credit You Can Still Claim
A rundown of federal tax credits still available in 2026 for home energy efficiency upgrades, per ENERGY STAR guidance.
Read the guide →Renters and Energy Burden: Why You Pay More When You Can't Control Efficiency
Why renters and multifamily residents tend to carry a higher energy burden than homeowners, according to ACEEE research.
Read the guide →Energy Burden and Race: What the Research Actually Shows
A factual look at documented racial disparities in U.S. household energy burden, based on ACEEE and academic research.
Read the guide →Energy Burden and Aging in Place: Why Seniors Carry a Heavier Load
Why elderly households consistently show a higher energy burden in ACEEE research, and what that means for aging-in-place planning.
Read the guide →How Much Electricity Does a Home EV Charger Really Use?
A real-world breakdown of Level 2 home EV charger electricity costs, and how they compare to gasoline.
Read the guide →The 6% Rule: Why Energy Affordability Has a Hard Line (and What Happens Past It)
Where the 6% energy burden threshold comes from, why it's the standard, and what changes for a household above it.
Read the guide →Gas vs. Electric Water Heater: The True Cost to Run Each
A grounded comparison of gas and electric water heater running costs, plus where heat pump water heaters fit in.
Read the guide →How to Read Your Utility Bill Like an Energy Analyst
A line-by-line guide to understanding what's actually on your electric bill, beyond just the total due.
Read the guide →Programmable Thermostats: Real Savings Data, Not Marketing Claims
What programmable and smart thermostats actually save, based on ENERGY STAR guidance rather than manufacturer marketing.
Read the guide →Insulation ROI: Which Upgrade Pays Back Fastest?
A comparison of attic, wall, and air-sealing insulation upgrades by typical payback period and impact.
Read the guide →What Happens If You Can't Pay Your Energy Bill? A State-by-State Guide to Assistance
What actually happens when a household falls behind on an energy bill, and the assistance programs available before disconnection.
Read the guide →