Can households afford energy in Kentucky?
12th of 51. All Kentucky households: 2.6% ($2,066 of $78,504). Same income group, U.S.: 8.3%. Under 30% of median: 20.9% on $7,869. Renters 3.2%, owners 2.5%.
Kentucky burden by income bracket
At or above 6% in Kentucky: under 30%, 30% to 60%. Together 29% of homes (506,615 of 1,769,102).
Kentucky burden, % of income
- 20.9Under 30%
- 7.530% to 60%
- 4.860% to 80%
- 3.880% to 100%
- 1.8Over 100%
Getting the average under-30% household in Kentucky down to 6% takes $1,174 off its $1,646 energy cost, or $19,564 more income.
Kentucky income, cost and burden
| Bracket | Kentucky homes | Share | Kentucky income | Electric | All energy | Kentucky burden | U.S. burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30% | 214,480 | 12% | $7,869 | $1,269 | $1,646 | 20.9% | 17.0% |
| 30% to 60% | 292,135 | 17% | $23,572 | $1,358 | $1,770 | 7.5% | 6.3% |
| 60% to 80% | 186,611 | 11% | $40,257 | $1,490 | $1,954 | 4.8% | 4.3% |
| 80% to 100% | 169,871 | 10% | $53,529 | $1,534 | $2,029 | 3.8% | 3.4% |
| Over 100% | 906,005 | 51% | $125,499 | $1,687 | $2,292 | 1.8% | 1.6% |
| All | 1,769,102 | 100% | $78,504 | $1,546 | $2,066 | 2.6% | 2.2% |
Renters, owners and fuel in Kentucky
Renters pay $1,332 on $41,018 (3.2%); owners $2,410 on $96,050 (2.5%); U.S. 2.4% and 2.2%. Most common fuel: electricity, 54% of homes. Heaviest burden: fuel oil, 6.4%.
| Kentucky heating fuel | Homes | Share | Kentucky income | All energy | Burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 948,402 | 53.6% | $72,474 | $1,853 | 2.6% |
| Utility gas | 642,992 | 36.3% | $92,127 | $2,233 | 2.4% |
| Bottled gas (propane) | 110,945 | 6.3% | $70,844 | $3,041 | 4.3% |
| Fuel oil | 12,895 | 0.7% | $40,620 | $2,595 | 6.4% |
| Wood, coal, solar and other | 53,868 | 3.0% | $46,903 | $1,712 | 3.6% |
Your burden against Kentucky
Help and shutoff rules in Kentucky
FY2024 LIHEAP heating help: 70,549 homes, 14 per 100 under 60% of median.
FY2026 funding snapshot $56,497,880, $112 per such home.
Eligibility listed: Heating, Cooling, & Crisis: 150% Federal Poverty Level Weatherization: 200% Federal Poverty Level.
Benefits listed: Heating: $15 minimum, $250 maximum Cooling: $41 minimum, $250 maximum Winter Crisis: $400 maximum.
- Kentucky LIHEAP office, phone 1-800-456-3452
- Clearinghouse snapshot, Kentucky
- Kentucky help with your bill
Kentucky has a cold-weather clause; wording on the help page.
Read: 807 KAR 5:006, Sections 15 and 16, checked 2026-10-02; some utilities only.
Not legal advice. Ask your Kentucky utility.
Highest-burden Kentucky counties
119 counties with 1,000+ homes; top: Wolfe County at 6.1%, lowest of the 119: Oldham County at 1.6%.
| Kentucky county | Homes | Income | All energy | Burden | Under 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolfe County | 2,506 | $34,102 | $2,073 | 6.1% | 10.8% |
| Lee County | 2,637 | $41,649 | $2,344 | 5.6% | 12.5% |
| Leslie County | 3,698 | $46,343 | $2,477 | 5.3% | 12.5% |
| Magoffin County | 4,554 | $44,846 | $2,319 | 5.2% | 13.4% |
| Letcher County | 8,415 | $49,418 | $2,470 | 5.0% | 13.3% |
| Elliott County | 2,263 | $43,828 | $2,182 | 5.0% | 13.1% |
| Pike County | 23,967 | $54,236 | $2,656 | 4.9% | 14.6% |
| Fulton County | 2,378 | $45,732 | $2,212 | 4.8% | 10.8% |
Next to Kentucky in the ranking
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Sources
DOE LEAD 2022; LIHEAP Clearinghouse; CSV.
Questions
How much of income do Kentucky households spend on energy?
2.6% for all households ($2,066 of $78,504) and 10.1% under 60% of median income. U.S.: 2.2%, 8.3%.
Who is hit hardest in Kentucky?
Households under 30% of median income: 20.9%, 214,480 homes spending $1,646 on $7,869.
How many Kentucky homes get LIHEAP heating help?
70,549 in FY2024, 14 per 100 homes under 60% of median; not a take-up rate.
Is electricity the whole Kentucky energy burden?
No: electricity is 2.0% of 2.6%; gas and other fuel are the rest.