Can households afford energy in Alabama?
7th of 51. All Alabama households: 2.8% ($2,268 of $79,634). Same income group, U.S.: 8.3%. Under 30% of median: 23.2% on $8,010. Renters 4.0%, owners 2.6%.
Alabama burden by income bracket
At or above 6% in Alabama: under 30%, 30% to 60%. Together 30% of homes (579,638 of 1,933,150).
Alabama burden, % of income
- 23.2Under 30%
- 8.430% to 60%
- 5.360% to 80%
- 4.180% to 100%
- 1.9Over 100%
Getting the average under-30% household in Alabama down to 6% takes $1,381 off its $1,862 energy cost, or $23,023 more income.
Alabama income, cost and burden
| Bracket | Alabama homes | Share | Alabama income | Electric | All energy | Alabama burden | U.S. burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30% | 241,591 | 12% | $8,010 | $1,578 | $1,862 | 23.2% | 17.0% |
| 30% to 60% | 338,047 | 17% | $24,911 | $1,767 | $2,087 | 8.4% | 6.3% |
| 60% to 80% | 203,436 | 11% | $41,514 | $1,860 | $2,194 | 5.3% | 4.3% |
| 80% to 100% | 178,443 | 9% | $55,458 | $1,915 | $2,265 | 4.1% | 3.4% |
| Over 100% | 971,633 | 50% | $128,903 | $2,061 | $2,449 | 1.9% | 1.6% |
| All | 1,933,150 | 100% | $79,634 | $1,915 | $2,268 | 2.8% | 2.2% |
Renters, owners and fuel in Alabama
Renters pay $1,642 on $41,311 (4.0%); owners $2,541 on $96,278 (2.6%); U.S. 2.4% and 2.2%. Most common fuel: electricity, 67% of homes. Heaviest burden: fuel oil, 5.5%.
| Alabama heating fuel | Homes | Share | Alabama income | All energy | Burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 1,290,649 | 66.8% | $76,422 | $2,138 | 2.8% |
| Utility gas | 507,498 | 26.3% | $94,478 | $2,593 | 2.7% |
| Bottled gas (propane) | 104,356 | 5.4% | $59,035 | $2,496 | 4.2% |
| Fuel oil | 2,316 | 0.1% | $29,163 | $1,611 | 5.5% |
| Wood, coal, solar and other | 28,331 | 1.5% | $40,054 | $1,596 | 4.0% |
Your burden against Alabama
Help and shutoff rules in Alabama
FY2024 LIHEAP heating help: 70,818 homes, 12 per 100 under 60% of median.
FY2026 funding snapshot $58,667,004, $101 per such home.
Eligibility listed: Heating, Cooling, & Crisis: 150% Federal Poverty Level Weatherization: 200% Federal Poverty Level.
Benefits listed: Heating: $280 minimum; $580 maximum Cooling: $320 minimum; $520 maximum Winter Crisis: $1,100 maximum; Summer Crisis: $9.
Programs named for Alabama: Alabama Power; Project Share; Central Alabama Electric Cooperative.
- Alabama LIHEAP office, phone 1-800-392-8098
- Clearinghouse snapshot, Alabama
- Alabama help with your bill
Cold-weather clause: Rule .12(2)(e): no residential electric or natural gas service may be disconnected for nonpayment when the National Weather Service forecast for that location is 32 F or below for that calendar day. No calendar-date winter season found in the text read.
Read: Ala. Admin. Code r. 770-X-1-.12 (Alabama PSC General Rules, collection of delinquent accounts and discontinuance of service for nonpayment), checked 2026-10-02; some utilities only.
Not legal advice. Ask your Alabama utility.
Highest-burden Alabama counties
67 counties with 1,000+ homes; top: Perry County at 5.8%, lowest of the 67: Madison County at 1.9%.
| Alabama county | Homes | Income | All energy | Burden | Under 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perry County | 3,075 | $37,250 | $2,174 | 5.8% | 11.8% |
| Sumter County | 4,798 | $45,087 | $2,345 | 5.2% | 13.0% |
| Dallas County | 14,753 | $48,470 | $2,463 | 5.1% | 14.8% |
| Lowndes County | 4,001 | $52,792 | $2,659 | 5.0% | 16.4% |
| Macon County | 7,131 | $54,129 | $2,622 | 4.8% | 15.6% |
| Wilcox County | 3,579 | $50,398 | $2,382 | 4.7% | 12.8% |
| Bullock County | 3,450 | $49,597 | $2,307 | 4.7% | 14.0% |
| Greene County | 2,872 | $45,394 | $2,109 | 4.6% | 12.4% |
Next to Alabama in the ranking
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Sources
DOE LEAD 2022; LIHEAP Clearinghouse; CSV.
Questions
How much of income do Alabama households spend on energy?
2.8% for all households ($2,268 of $79,634) and 11.2% under 60% of median income. U.S.: 2.2%, 8.3%.
Who is hit hardest in Alabama?
Households under 30% of median income: 23.2%, 241,591 homes spending $1,862 on $8,010.
How many Alabama homes get LIHEAP heating help?
70,818 in FY2024, 12 per 100 homes under 60% of median; not a take-up rate.
Is electricity the whole Alabama energy burden?
No: electricity is 2.4% of 2.8%; gas and other fuel are the rest.