Can households afford energy in Louisiana?
8th of 51. All Louisiana households: 2.7% ($2,174 of $79,817). Same income group, U.S.: 8.3%. Under 30% of median: 22.3% on $8,308. Renters 3.8%, owners 2.5%.
Louisiana burden by income bracket
At or above 6% in Louisiana: under 30%, 30% to 60%. Together 32% of homes (565,391 of 1,765,264).
Louisiana burden, % of income
- 22.3Under 30%
- 8.030% to 60%
- 5.060% to 80%
- 3.980% to 100%
- 1.8Over 100%
Getting the average under-30% household in Louisiana down to 6% takes $1,357 off its $1,855 energy cost, or $22,609 more income.
Louisiana income, cost and burden
| Bracket | Louisiana homes | Share | Louisiana income | Electric | All energy | Louisiana burden | U.S. burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30% | 251,647 | 14% | $8,308 | $1,592 | $1,855 | 22.3% | 17.0% |
| 30% to 60% | 313,744 | 18% | $24,906 | $1,697 | $1,984 | 8.0% | 6.3% |
| 60% to 80% | 180,894 | 10% | $41,512 | $1,769 | $2,065 | 5.0% | 4.3% |
| 80% to 100% | 153,767 | 9% | $55,305 | $1,806 | $2,127 | 3.9% | 3.4% |
| Over 100% | 865,212 | 49% | $132,892 | $1,990 | $2,366 | 1.8% | 1.6% |
| All | 1,765,264 | 100% | $79,817 | $1,842 | $2,174 | 2.7% | 2.2% |
Renters, owners and fuel in Louisiana
Renters pay $1,614 on $42,594 (3.8%); owners $2,447 on $98,015 (2.5%); U.S. 2.4% and 2.2%. Most common fuel: electricity, 64% of homes. Heaviest burden: fuel oil, 4.3%.
| Louisiana heating fuel | Homes | Share | Louisiana income | All energy | Burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 1,135,656 | 64.3% | $73,370 | $2,044 | 2.8% |
| Utility gas | 576,503 | 32.7% | $94,471 | $2,440 | 2.6% |
| Bottled gas (propane) | 33,906 | 1.9% | $66,595 | $2,453 | 3.7% |
| Fuel oil | 1,343 | 0.1% | $28,523 | $1,232 | 4.3% |
| Wood, coal, solar and other | 17,856 | 1.0% | $45,706 | $1,386 | 3.0% |
Your burden against Louisiana
Help and shutoff rules in Louisiana
FY2024 LIHEAP heating help: 23,770 homes, 4 per 100 under 60% of median.
FY2026 funding snapshot $56,959,058, $101 per such home.
Eligibility listed: Heating, Cooling, & Crisis: 60% State Median Income Weatherization: 200% Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Benefits listed: Heating and cooling: $200 minimum, $800 maximum Crisis: $1,000 maximum.
- Louisiana LIHEAP office, phone 225-763-8700
- Clearinghouse snapshot, Louisiana
- Louisiana help with your bill
Cold-weather clause: Utility may not disconnect a residential customer in a parish on a day when the previous day's highest temperature did not exceed 32 F and is predicted to stay at or below 32 F for the next 24 hours per nearest NWS reports. No calendar season found.
Read: LPSC General Order R-29706 (Second Amended), Disconnection of Service: Electric and Gas Utilities, Oct 5, 2007, checked 2026-10-02; some utilities only.
Not legal advice. Ask your Louisiana utility.
Highest-burden Louisiana counties
64 counties with 1,000+ homes; top: Claiborne Parish at 5.1%, lowest of the 64: Ascension Parish at 2.1%.
| Louisiana county | Homes | Income | All energy | Burden | Under 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claiborne Parish | 5,060 | $45,254 | $2,304 | 5.1% | 12.6% |
| Concordia Parish | 6,302 | $57,280 | $2,913 | 5.1% | 15.5% |
| Webster Parish | 14,801 | $50,987 | $2,556 | 5.0% | 13.7% |
| East Carroll Parish | 2,381 | $48,183 | $2,197 | 4.6% | 14.0% |
| Bienville Parish | 5,375 | $51,869 | $2,345 | 4.5% | 11.9% |
| Tensas Parish | 1,593 | $46,105 | $2,010 | 4.4% | 11.3% |
| Avoyelles Parish | 14,600 | $55,145 | $2,380 | 4.3% | 13.3% |
| Morehouse Parish | 9,474 | $55,387 | $2,387 | 4.3% | 13.3% |
Next to Louisiana in the ranking
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Sources
DOE LEAD 2022; LIHEAP Clearinghouse; CSV.
Questions
How much of income do Louisiana households spend on energy?
2.7% for all households ($2,174 of $79,817) and 11.0% under 60% of median income. U.S.: 2.2%, 8.3%.
Who is hit hardest in Louisiana?
Households under 30% of median income: 22.3%, 251,647 homes spending $1,855 on $8,308.
How many Louisiana homes get LIHEAP heating help?
23,770 in FY2024, 4 per 100 homes under 60% of median; not a take-up rate.
Is electricity the whole Louisiana energy burden?
No: electricity is 2.3% of 2.7%; gas and other fuel are the rest.