The CCM Energy Score, Explained
The CCM Energy Score
Free, no signup. Enter your numbers and get an instant 300–850 score that tells you whether your household's energy costs are healthy, stretched, or in the danger zone — benchmarked against your state and DOE's national energy-burden data.
How the score is calculated
The CCM Energy Score starts at 850 and subtracts points across three weighted factors:
| Factor | What it measures | Data source |
|---|---|---|
| Energy burden | Annual energy cost (electric + gas/oil/propane) as % of gross household income | DOE LEAD Tool methodology; 6% = high burden, 10% = severe burden |
| State rate differential | How far your state's average electricity rate sits above or below the national average | EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (April 2026) |
| Modeled efficiency index | Home age, heating fuel type, and square footage, applied as directional efficiency multipliers | ENERGY STAR / DOE weatherization program guidance |
State electricity rates in the calculator range from 11.40¢/kWh to 46.62¢/kWh, against a national residential average of 18.83¢/kWh as of April 2026 — up from 15.04¢/kWh in 2022, a 25% increase in four years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CCM Energy Score?
The CCM Energy Score is a free 300–850 tool from CCM Energy that scores household energy affordability using your energy burden percentage, your state's electricity rate versus the national average, and modeled home-efficiency factors.
What counts as a high energy burden?
The U.S. Department of Energy's LEAD Tool defines a household as having a 'high energy burden' at 6.0% or more of gross income spent on energy, and a 'severe energy burden' at 10.0% or more.
How is the CCM Energy Score different from just looking at my utility bill?
Your utility bill only shows a dollar amount. The CCM Energy Score contextualizes that dollar amount against your income, your state's typical rate, and your home's efficiency profile, so you know whether the number is actually a problem.
Does the CCM Energy Score cost anything or require an account?
No. The calculator is 100% free, requires no signup, and nothing you enter is stored or sold.
Where does the underlying data come from?
State electricity rates come from the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Electric Power Monthly (Table 5.6.A). Energy burden thresholds come from the U.S. Department of Energy's Low-Income Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) Tool and ACEEE research.