Can households afford energy in District of Columbia?
48th of 51. All District of Columbia households: 1.1% ($1,562 of $143,381). Same income group, U.S.: 8.3%. Under 30% of median: 11.5% on $11,331. Renters 1.2%, owners 1.0%.
District of Columbia burden by income bracket
At or above 6% in District of Columbia: under 30%. Together 18% of homes (56,027 of 315,797).
District of Columbia burden, % of income
- 11.5Under 30%
- 3.730% to 60%
- 2.260% to 80%
- 1.380% to 100%
- 0.7Over 100%
Getting the average under-30% household in District of Columbia down to 6% takes $622 off its $1,302 energy cost, or $10,369 more income.
District of Columbia income, cost and burden
| Bracket | District of Columbia homes | Share | District of Columbia income | Electric | All energy | District of Columbia burden | U.S. burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30% | 56,027 | 18% | $11,331 | $922 | $1,302 | 11.5% | 17.0% |
| 30% to 60% | 40,334 | 13% | $39,994 | $917 | $1,466 | 3.7% | 6.3% |
| 60% to 80% | 26,257 | 8% | $71,047 | $973 | $1,568 | 2.2% | 4.3% |
| 80% to 100% | 29,187 | 9% | $125,888 | $1,034 | $1,681 | 1.3% | 3.4% |
| Over 100% | 163,993 | 52% | $228,618 | $1,046 | $1,653 | 0.7% | 1.6% |
| All | 315,797 | 100% | $143,381 | $1,000 | $1,562 | 1.1% | 2.2% |
Renters, owners and fuel in District of Columbia
Renters pay $1,115 on $93,562 (1.2%); owners $2,194 on $213,777 (1.0%); U.S. 2.4% and 2.2%. Most common fuel: utility gas, 50% of homes. Heaviest burden: fuel oil, 4.0%.
| District of Columbia heating fuel | Homes | Share | District of Columbia income | All energy | Burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 141,243 | 44.7% | $130,196 | $1,159 | 0.9% |
| Utility gas | 158,928 | 50.3% | $161,849 | $1,966 | 1.2% |
| Bottled gas (propane) | 3,177 | 1.0% | $68,893 | $778 | 1.1% |
| Fuel oil | 2,907 | 0.9% | $91,923 | $3,707 | 4.0% |
| Wood, coal, solar and other | 9,542 | 3.0% | $71,428 | $426 | 0.6% |
Your burden against District of Columbia
Help and shutoff rules in District of Columbia
FY2024 LIHEAP heating help: 6,891 homes, 7 per 100 under 60% of median.
FY2026 funding snapshot $12,655,521, $131 per such home.
Eligibility listed: Heating, Cooling, Crisis, & Weatherization: 60% State Median Income.
Benefits listed: Heating and cooling: $200 minimum, $1,800 maximum Crisis: $500 maximum Weatherization: $25,000 maximum.
Programs named for District of Columbia: Residential Aid Discount (RAD); Residential Essential Service (RES).
- District of Columbia LIHEAP office, phone 202-737-4404 or 311
- Clearinghouse snapshot, District of Columbia
- District of Columbia help with your bill
District of Columbia has a cold-weather clause; wording on the help page.
Read: 15 DCMR 310-312, 306, 320 (Chapter 3, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities), checked 2026-10-02; some utilities only.
Not legal advice. Ask your District of Columbia utility.
Highest-burden District of Columbia counties
1 county with 1,000+ homes; top: District of Columbia at 1.1%, lowest of the 1: District of Columbia at 1.1%.
| District of Columbia county | Homes | Income | All energy | Burden | Under 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 315,797 | $143,381 | $1,562 | 1.1% | 5.9% |
Next to District of Columbia in the ranking
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Sources
DOE LEAD 2022; LIHEAP Clearinghouse; CSV.
Questions
How much of income do District of Columbia households spend on energy?
1.1% for all households ($1,562 of $143,381) and 5.9% under 60% of median income. U.S.: 2.2%, 8.3%.
Who is hit hardest in District of Columbia?
Households under 30% of median income: 11.5%, 56,027 homes spending $1,302 on $11,331.
How many District of Columbia homes get LIHEAP heating help?
6,891 in FY2024, 7 per 100 homes under 60% of median; not a take-up rate.
Is electricity the whole District of Columbia energy burden?
No: electricity is 0.7% of 1.1%; gas and other fuel are the rest.