Can households afford energy in Arkansas?
9th of 51. All Arkansas households: 2.8% ($2,116 of $75,495). Same income group, U.S.: 8.3%. Under 30% of median: 24.2% on $7,077. Renters 3.6%, owners 2.6%.
Arkansas burden by income bracket
At or above 6% in Arkansas: under 30%, 30% to 60%. Together 27% of homes (320,974 of 1,171,694).
Arkansas burden, % of income
- 24.2Under 30%
- 8.430% to 60%
- 5.560% to 80%
- 4.480% to 100%
- 1.9Over 100%
Getting the average under-30% household in Arkansas down to 6% takes $1,286 off its $1,711 energy cost, or $21,440 more income.
Arkansas income, cost and burden
| Bracket | Arkansas homes | Share | Arkansas income | Electric | All energy | Arkansas burden | U.S. burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30% | 119,336 | 10% | $7,077 | $1,253 | $1,711 | 24.2% | 17.0% |
| 30% to 60% | 201,638 | 17% | $22,146 | $1,304 | $1,859 | 8.4% | 6.3% |
| 60% to 80% | 125,259 | 11% | $36,966 | $1,446 | $2,020 | 5.5% | 4.3% |
| 80% to 100% | 115,635 | 10% | $46,843 | $1,486 | $2,068 | 4.4% | 3.4% |
| Over 100% | 609,827 | 52% | $119,871 | $1,626 | $2,309 | 1.9% | 1.6% |
| All | 1,171,694 | 100% | $75,495 | $1,500 | $2,116 | 2.8% | 2.2% |
Renters, owners and fuel in Arkansas
Renters pay $1,504 on $41,751 (3.6%); owners $2,428 on $92,705 (2.6%); U.S. 2.4% and 2.2%. Most common fuel: electricity, 52% of homes. Heaviest burden: fuel oil, 5.2%.
| Arkansas heating fuel | Homes | Share | Arkansas income | All energy | Burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 614,787 | 52.5% | $69,185 | $1,820 | 2.6% |
| Utility gas | 436,969 | 37.3% | $88,587 | $2,475 | 2.8% |
| Bottled gas (propane) | 76,083 | 6.5% | $63,335 | $2,557 | 4.0% |
| Fuel oil | 1,123 | 0.1% | $32,736 | $1,704 | 5.2% |
| Wood, coal, solar and other | 42,732 | 3.6% | $55,186 | $1,925 | 3.5% |
Your burden against Arkansas
Help and shutoff rules in Arkansas
FY2024 LIHEAP heating help: 29,299 homes, 9 per 100 under 60% of median.
FY2026 funding snapshot $35,109,772, $109 per such home.
Eligibility listed: Heating, Cooling, Crisis: 60% State Median Income (8+ household members at 150% Federal Poverty Level) Weatherization: 2.
Benefits listed: Heating $60 minimum, $570 maximum, Cooling: $60 minimum $344 maximum Winter Crisis: $600 maximum Summer Crisis: $600 max.
Programs named for Arkansas: Entergy; Emergency Charitable Assistance; Benton Utilities; Black Hills Energy Arkansas.
- Arkansas LIHEAP office, phone 888-233-0326
- Clearinghouse snapshot, Arkansas
- Arkansas help with your bill
Cold-weather clause: 455-615(a): electric and gas utilities may not suspend residential service on a day when the NWS forecasts 32 F or lower at any time in the following 24 hours. The Nov 1 to Mar 31 moratorium in 455-615(b) is for gas utilities and low-income gas customers only; no calendar-date ban for electric found in the text read.
Read: 23 CAR 455-601 to 455-619 (Arkansas PSC General Service Rules), esp. 455-604, 455-613, 455-615, 455-617, 455-618, checked 2026-10-02; some utilities only.
Not legal advice. Ask your Arkansas utility.
Highest-burden Arkansas counties
75 counties with 1,000+ homes; top: Nevada County at 7.7%, lowest of the 75: Benton County at 2.0%.
| Arkansas county | Homes | Income | All energy | Burden | Under 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada County | 3,154 | $46,371 | $3,582 | 7.7% | 20.3% |
| Stone County | 4,731 | $47,935 | $2,251 | 4.7% | 11.7% |
| Fulton County | 4,780 | $53,358 | $2,351 | 4.4% | 12.2% |
| Clay County | 6,063 | $59,045 | $2,601 | 4.4% | 14.1% |
| Lee County | 2,586 | $52,057 | $2,266 | 4.3% | 14.8% |
| Ashley County | 7,194 | $55,547 | $2,404 | 4.3% | 14.7% |
| Desha County | 4,603 | $49,246 | $2,131 | 4.3% | 12.9% |
| Phillips County | 6,180 | $50,115 | $2,172 | 4.3% | 13.9% |
Next to Arkansas in the ranking
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Sources
DOE LEAD 2022; LIHEAP Clearinghouse; CSV.
Questions
How much of income do Arkansas households spend on energy?
2.8% for all households ($2,116 of $75,495) and 10.9% under 60% of median income. U.S.: 2.2%, 8.3%.
Who is hit hardest in Arkansas?
Households under 30% of median income: 24.2%, 119,336 homes spending $1,711 on $7,077.
How many Arkansas homes get LIHEAP heating help?
29,299 in FY2024, 9 per 100 homes under 60% of median; not a take-up rate.
Is electricity the whole Arkansas energy burden?
No: electricity is 2.0% of 2.8%; gas and other fuel are the rest.