Laird and Co-author Publish Findings About Surviving Utility Shut-offs in the American Behavioral Scientist
Posted: 10/16/2022 (CSDE Research)
CSDE External Affiliate Jennifer Laird and co-author Diana Hernandez have recently published a paper entitled “Surviving a Shut Off: U.S. Householders at Great Risk of Utility Disconnection and How They Cope” in American Behavioral Scientist. This article is the first known study to estimate household characteristics and coping behaviors associated with utility disconnections in the United States. Utilizing the Residential Energy Consumption Survey, the authors analyze the prevalence of disconnection notices, disconnection services, and related coping strategies, including forgoing necessities, maintaining an unhealthy home temperature, and receiving energy assistance. They show that nearly 15% of American households received disconnection notices and 3% experience service disconnections in a 2015 panel. The authors discuss implications for future research on material hardships, survival strategies, and the health impacts of poverty.