Can households afford energy in Delaware?
32nd of 51. All Delaware households: 2.3% ($2,248 of $97,892). Same income group, U.S.: 8.3%. Under 30% of median: 17.4% on $9,551. Renters 2.6%, owners 2.2%.
Delaware burden by income bracket
At or above 6% in Delaware: under 30%, 30% to 60%. Together 26% of homes (100,163 of 389,000).
Delaware burden, % of income
- 17.4Under 30%
- 6.530% to 60%
- 4.460% to 80%
- 3.580% to 100%
- 1.6Over 100%
Getting the average under-30% household in Delaware down to 6% takes $1,084 off its $1,657 energy cost, or $18,066 more income.
Delaware income, cost and burden
| Bracket | Delaware homes | Share | Delaware income | Electric | All energy | Delaware burden | U.S. burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30% | 40,679 | 10% | $9,551 | $1,161 | $1,657 | 17.4% | 17.0% |
| 30% to 60% | 59,484 | 15% | $30,342 | $1,276 | $1,987 | 6.5% | 6.3% |
| 60% to 80% | 42,258 | 11% | $49,629 | $1,370 | $2,171 | 4.4% | 4.3% |
| 80% to 100% | 40,646 | 10% | $63,671 | $1,398 | $2,214 | 3.5% | 3.4% |
| Over 100% | 205,933 | 53% | $151,512 | $1,553 | $2,462 | 1.6% | 1.6% |
| All | 389,000 | 100% | $97,892 | $1,433 | $2,248 | 2.3% | 2.2% |
Renters, owners and fuel in Delaware
Renters pay $1,273 on $48,853 (2.6%); owners $2,627 on $117,000 (2.2%); U.S. 2.4% and 2.2%. Most common fuel: utility gas, 42% of homes. Heaviest burden: fuel oil, 3.7%.
| Delaware heating fuel | Homes | Share | Delaware income | All energy | Burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 140,142 | 36.0% | $86,224 | $1,709 | 2.0% |
| Utility gas | 165,253 | 42.5% | $112,484 | $2,263 | 2.0% |
| Bottled gas (propane) | 35,972 | 9.2% | $94,475 | $3,299 | 3.5% |
| Fuel oil | 39,278 | 10.1% | $86,147 | $3,201 | 3.7% |
| Wood, coal, solar and other | 8,355 | 2.1% | $74,884 | $1,976 | 2.6% |
Your burden against Delaware
Help and shutoff rules in Delaware
FY2024 LIHEAP heating help: 8,820 homes, 9 per 100 under 60% of median.
FY2026 funding snapshot $13,955,416, $139 per such home.
Eligibility listed: Heating, Cooling, Crisis, & Weatherization: 60% State Median Income.
Benefits listed: Heating: $100 minimum, $2,464 maximum Cooling: $1 minimum, $1,000 maximum Crisis: $10,000 maximum.
- Delaware LIHEAP office, phone 302-397-8408
- Clearinghouse snapshot, Delaware
- Delaware help with your bill
Cold-weather clause: Heating season Nov 15 to Mar 31 (3002-2.0). No termination for non-payment on a day when the NWS 8:00 A.M. temperature at a Delaware location within 50 miles of the dwelling is 32 F or below.
Read: 26 Del. Admin. Code 3002 (Regulations Governing Termination of Residential Electric or Natural Gas Service by Public Utilities for Non-Payment During Extreme Seasonal Temperature Conditions), esp. 3002-3.0 and 3002-6.0, checked 2026-10-02; some utilities only.
Not legal advice. Ask your Delaware utility.
Highest-burden Delaware counties
3 counties with 1,000+ homes; top: Kent County at 3.0%, lowest of the 3: New Castle County at 2.0%.
| Delaware county | Homes | Income | All energy | Burden | Under 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent County | 68,705 | $78,387 | $2,328 | 3.0% | 8.2% |
| Sussex County | 99,858 | $96,013 | $2,469 | 2.6% | 9.3% |
| New Castle County | 220,437 | $104,822 | $2,122 | 2.0% | 8.0% |
Next to Delaware in the ranking
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Sources
DOE LEAD 2022; LIHEAP Clearinghouse; CSV.
Questions
How much of income do Delaware households spend on energy?
2.3% for all households ($2,248 of $97,892) and 8.5% under 60% of median income. U.S.: 2.2%, 8.3%.
Who is hit hardest in Delaware?
Households under 30% of median income: 17.4%, 40,679 homes spending $1,657 on $9,551.
How many Delaware homes get LIHEAP heating help?
8,820 in FY2024, 9 per 100 homes under 60% of median; not a take-up rate.
Is electricity the whole Delaware energy burden?
No: electricity is 1.5% of 2.3%; gas and other fuel are the rest.