Can households afford energy in Nebraska?
24th of 51. All Nebraska households: 2.7% ($2,401 of $90,095). Same income group, U.S.: 8.3%. Under 30% of median: 19.9% on $8,700. Renters 3.2%, owners 2.6%.
Nebraska burden by income bracket
At or above 6% in Nebraska: under 30%, 30% to 60%. Together 26% of homes (199,977 of 776,379).
Nebraska burden, % of income
- 19.9Under 30%
- 7.330% to 60%
- 4.960% to 80%
- 3.980% to 100%
- 1.9Over 100%
Getting the average under-30% household in Nebraska down to 6% takes $1,213 off its $1,735 energy cost, or $20,217 more income.
Nebraska income, cost and burden
| Bracket | Nebraska homes | Share | Nebraska income | Electric | All energy | Nebraska burden | U.S. burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30% | 75,265 | 10% | $8,700 | $1,106 | $1,735 | 19.9% | 17.0% |
| 30% to 60% | 124,712 | 16% | $29,109 | $1,313 | $2,114 | 7.3% | 6.3% |
| 60% to 80% | 87,827 | 11% | $46,147 | $1,434 | $2,279 | 4.9% | 4.3% |
| 80% to 100% | 85,038 | 11% | $61,658 | $1,519 | $2,420 | 3.9% | 3.4% |
| Over 100% | 403,538 | 52% | $139,681 | $1,635 | $2,637 | 1.9% | 1.6% |
| All | 776,379 | 100% | $90,095 | $1,496 | $2,401 | 2.7% | 2.2% |
Renters, owners and fuel in Nebraska
Renters pay $1,454 on $45,965 (3.2%); owners $2,878 on $112,280 (2.6%); U.S. 2.4% and 2.2%. Most common fuel: utility gas, 60% of homes. Heaviest burden: bottled gas (propane), 4.4%.
| Nebraska heating fuel | Homes | Share | Nebraska income | All energy | Burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 239,254 | 30.8% | $80,654 | $1,957 | 2.4% |
| Utility gas | 462,946 | 59.6% | $96,165 | $2,455 | 2.5% |
| Bottled gas (propane) | 55,085 | 7.1% | $87,104 | $3,850 | 4.4% |
| Fuel oil | 2,922 | 0.4% | $73,485 | $3,127 | 4.2% |
| Wood, coal, solar and other | 16,172 | 2.1% | $69,191 | $2,347 | 3.4% |
Your burden against Nebraska
Help and shutoff rules in Nebraska
FY2024 LIHEAP heating help: 38,639 homes, 19 per 100 under 60% of median.
FY2026 funding snapshot $35,774,584, $179 per such home.
Eligibility listed: 150% Federal Poverty Level Weatherization: 200% Federal Poverty Line.
Benefits listed: Heating: $154 minimum, $1,050 maximum Cooling: $273 minimum, $700 maximum Crisis: $500 maximum.
- Nebraska LIHEAP office, phone (402) 471-3121
- Clearinghouse snapshot, Nebraska
- Nebraska help with your bill
No cold-weather clause found in the Nebraska text read.
Read: Neb. Rev. Stat. 70-1601 to 70-1613 (esp. 70-1605, 70-1606, 70-1608 to 70-1612), checked 2026-10-02; some utilities only.
Not legal advice. Ask your Nebraska utility.
Highest-burden Nebraska counties
72 counties with 1,000+ homes; top: Sherman County at 7.8%, lowest of the 72: Sarpy County at 1.9%.
| Nebraska county | Homes | Income | All energy | Burden | Under 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherman County | 1,303 | $67,905 | $5,301 | 7.8% | 23.5% |
| Custer County | 4,543 | $75,114 | $5,138 | 6.8% | 21.1% |
| Sheridan County | 2,101 | $70,887 | $4,780 | 6.7% | 18.2% |
| Brown County | 1,217 | $58,916 | $3,822 | 6.5% | 16.4% |
| Dawes County | 3,484 | $66,145 | $3,915 | 5.9% | 15.1% |
| Colfax County | 3,616 | $82,721 | $4,729 | 5.7% | 15.0% |
| Howard County | 2,544 | $81,514 | $4,639 | 5.7% | 18.4% |
| Jefferson County | 3,122 | $67,941 | $3,750 | 5.5% | 16.4% |
Next to Nebraska in the ranking
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Sources
DOE LEAD 2022; LIHEAP Clearinghouse; CSV.
Questions
How much of income do Nebraska households spend on energy?
2.7% for all households ($2,401 of $90,095) and 9.2% under 60% of median income. U.S.: 2.2%, 8.3%.
Who is hit hardest in Nebraska?
Households under 30% of median income: 19.9%, 75,265 homes spending $1,735 on $8,700.
How many Nebraska homes get LIHEAP heating help?
38,639 in FY2024, 19 per 100 homes under 60% of median; not a take-up rate.
Is electricity the whole Nebraska energy burden?
No: electricity is 1.7% of 2.7%; gas and other fuel are the rest.