Can households afford energy in Mississippi?
3rd of 51. All Mississippi households: 3.0% ($2,116 of $70,199). Same income group, U.S.: 8.3%. Under 30% of median: 27.6% on $6,515. Renters 4.2%, owners 2.8%.
Mississippi burden by income bracket
At or above 6% in Mississippi: under 30%, 30% to 60%. Together 29% of homes (326,263 of 1,121,269).
Mississippi burden, % of income
- 27.6Under 30%
- 9.230% to 60%
- 5.860% to 80%
- 4.780% to 100%
- 2.0Over 100%
Getting the average under-30% household in Mississippi down to 6% takes $1,409 off its $1,800 energy cost, or $23,485 more income.
Mississippi income, cost and burden
| Bracket | Mississippi homes | Share | Mississippi income | Electric | All energy | Mississippi burden | U.S. burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30% | 130,771 | 12% | $6,515 | $1,437 | $1,800 | 27.6% | 17.0% |
| 30% to 60% | 195,492 | 17% | $20,727 | $1,494 | $1,908 | 9.2% | 6.3% |
| 60% to 80% | 113,412 | 10% | $35,230 | $1,605 | $2,046 | 5.8% | 4.3% |
| 80% to 100% | 105,438 | 9% | $45,061 | $1,667 | $2,106 | 4.7% | 3.4% |
| Over 100% | 576,157 | 51% | $112,922 | $1,790 | $2,273 | 2.0% | 1.6% |
| All | 1,121,269 | 100% | $70,199 | $1,667 | $2,116 | 3.0% | 2.2% |
Renters, owners and fuel in Mississippi
Renters pay $1,567 on $37,520 (4.2%); owners $2,360 on $84,771 (2.8%); U.S. 2.4% and 2.2%. Most common fuel: electricity, 58% of homes. Heaviest burden: fuel oil, 4.8%.
| Mississippi heating fuel | Homes | Share | Mississippi income | All energy | Burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 655,488 | 58.5% | $67,177 | $1,982 | 3.0% |
| Utility gas | 328,268 | 29.3% | $81,142 | $2,261 | 2.8% |
| Bottled gas (propane) | 117,118 | 10.4% | $61,720 | $2,556 | 4.1% |
| Fuel oil | 1,540 | 0.1% | $32,606 | $1,550 | 4.8% |
| Wood, coal, solar and other | 18,855 | 1.7% | $40,457 | $1,521 | 3.8% |
Your burden against Mississippi
Help and shutoff rules in Mississippi
FY2024 LIHEAP heating help: 32,473 homes, 10 per 100 under 60% of median.
FY2026 funding snapshot $36,723,579, $113 per such home.
Eligibility listed: Heating, Cooling, and Crisis: 60% State Median Income Weatherization: 200% Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Benefits listed: Heating and Cooling: $1 minimum, $1,500 maximum Crisis: $1,500 maximum Weatherization: $12,000 maximum.
Programs named for Mississippi: Mississippi Power; Emergency Charitable Assistance; Atmos Energy; Columbus Light And Water.
- Mississippi LIHEAP office, phone 1-800-421-0762
- Clearinghouse snapshot, Mississippi
- Mississippi help with your bill
Mississippi has a cold-weather clause; wording on the help page.
Read: Miss. Admin. Code Title 39, Part III (PSC Rules and Regulations Governing Public Utility Service), Rules 8.100, 8.105, 8.120, 8.125 (with Rule 1.100), checked 2026-10-02; some utilities only.
Not legal advice. Ask your Mississippi utility.
Highest-burden Mississippi counties
81 counties with 1,000+ homes; top: Coahoma County at 6.0%, lowest of the 81: Madison County at 1.9%.
| Mississippi county | Homes | Income | All energy | Burden | Under 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coahoma County | 8,387 | $47,728 | $2,889 | 6.0% | 17.4% |
| Quitman County | 2,656 | $41,431 | $2,319 | 5.6% | 15.2% |
| Holmes County | 5,798 | $44,545 | $2,406 | 5.4% | 18.9% |
| Humphreys County | 2,991 | $55,094 | $2,814 | 5.1% | 15.7% |
| Claiborne County | 2,624 | $43,352 | $2,050 | 4.7% | 14.1% |
| Tallahatchie County | 4,301 | $48,354 | $2,255 | 4.7% | 12.7% |
| Washington County | 17,290 | $58,145 | $2,697 | 4.6% | 15.6% |
| Yazoo County | 8,807 | $51,735 | $2,361 | 4.6% | 17.0% |
Next to Mississippi in the ranking
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Sources
DOE LEAD 2022; LIHEAP Clearinghouse; CSV.
Questions
How much of income do Mississippi households spend on energy?
3.0% for all households ($2,116 of $70,199) and 12.4% under 60% of median income. U.S.: 2.2%, 8.3%.
Who is hit hardest in Mississippi?
Households under 30% of median income: 27.6%, 130,771 homes spending $1,800 on $6,515.
How many Mississippi homes get LIHEAP heating help?
32,473 in FY2024, 10 per 100 homes under 60% of median; not a take-up rate.
Is electricity the whole Mississippi energy burden?
No: electricity is 2.4% of 3.0%; gas and other fuel are the rest.