Can households afford energy in Oklahoma?
5th of 51. All Oklahoma households: 3.0% ($2,369 of $80,011). Same income group, U.S.: 8.3%. Under 30% of median: 25.5% on $7,351. Renters 3.8%, owners 2.8%.
Oklahoma burden by income bracket
At or above 6% in Oklahoma: under 30%, 30% to 60%. Together 25% of homes (385,126 of 1,522,711).
Oklahoma burden, % of income
- 25.5Under 30%
- 8.730% to 60%
- 5.860% to 80%
- 4.680% to 100%
- 2.1Over 100%
Getting the average under-30% household in Oklahoma down to 6% takes $1,431 off its $1,872 energy cost, or $23,849 more income.
Oklahoma income, cost and burden
| Bracket | Oklahoma homes | Share | Oklahoma income | Electric | All energy | Oklahoma burden | U.S. burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30% | 152,546 | 10% | $7,351 | $1,334 | $1,872 | 25.5% | 17.0% |
| 30% to 60% | 232,580 | 15% | $23,751 | $1,428 | $2,067 | 8.7% | 6.3% |
| 60% to 80% | 163,650 | 11% | $38,650 | $1,553 | $2,234 | 5.8% | 4.3% |
| 80% to 100% | 147,207 | 10% | $50,103 | $1,602 | $2,304 | 4.6% | 3.4% |
| Over 100% | 826,729 | 54% | $122,757 | $1,772 | $2,585 | 2.1% | 1.6% |
| All | 1,522,711 | 100% | $80,011 | $1,635 | $2,369 | 3.0% | 2.2% |
Renters, owners and fuel in Oklahoma
Renters pay $1,672 on $43,576 (3.8%); owners $2,730 on $98,830 (2.8%); U.S. 2.4% and 2.2%. Most common fuel: utility gas, 51% of homes. Heaviest burden: bottled gas (propane), 4.3%.
| Oklahoma heating fuel | Homes | Share | Oklahoma income | All energy | Burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 616,623 | 40.5% | $67,385 | $1,964 | 2.9% |
| Utility gas | 769,453 | 50.5% | $91,898 | $2,604 | 2.8% |
| Bottled gas (propane) | 96,327 | 6.3% | $76,915 | $3,300 | 4.3% |
| Fuel oil | 2,668 | 0.2% | $36,920 | $1,564 | 4.2% |
| Wood, coal, solar and other | 37,640 | 2.5% | $54,804 | $1,885 | 3.4% |
Your burden against Oklahoma
Help and shutoff rules in Oklahoma
FY2024 LIHEAP heating help: 56,204 homes, 15 per 100 under 60% of median.
FY2026 funding snapshot $40,969,043, $106 per such home.
Eligibility listed: 130% Federal Poverty Level Weatherization: 200% Federal Poverty Level.
Benefits listed: Heating: $40 minimum, $500 maximum Cooling: $150 minimum, $650 maximum Crisis: $750 maximum.
- Oklahoma LIHEAP office, phone 1-866-411-1877 or 405-522-5050
- Clearinghouse snapshot, Oklahoma
- Oklahoma help with your bill
Cold-weather clause: If the NWS local forecast predicts below 32 F at any time in the next 24 hours, utility must suspend disconnection where electric service is used for heating (forecast taken 6-8 a.m. on day of shut-off). Also, Nov 15-Apr 15 a second notice of at least 48 hours is required before disconnection (165:35-21-20(c)).
Read: OAC 165:35-21-10, -11, -20 (Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Chapter 35 Electric Utility Rules), checked 2026-10-02; some utilities only.
Not legal advice. Ask your Oklahoma utility.
Highest-burden Oklahoma counties
75 counties with 1,000+ homes; top: Roger Mills County at 5.5%, lowest of the 75: Logan County at 2.4%.
| Oklahoma county | Homes | Income | All energy | Burden | Under 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Mills County | 1,458 | $78,739 | $4,328 | 5.5% | 16.7% |
| Tillman County | 2,595 | $57,445 | $3,026 | 5.3% | 15.2% |
| Pushmataha County | 4,229 | $52,647 | $2,618 | 5.0% | 13.8% |
| Adair County | 6,848 | $53,009 | $2,573 | 4.9% | 13.9% |
| Le Flore County | 17,835 | $59,709 | $2,880 | 4.8% | 13.9% |
| Beckham County | 8,013 | $69,606 | $3,258 | 4.7% | 16.4% |
| Ottawa County | 11,718 | $58,344 | $2,719 | 4.7% | 12.6% |
| Kiowa County | 3,294 | $56,031 | $2,587 | 4.6% | 12.9% |
Next to Oklahoma in the ranking
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Sources
DOE LEAD 2022; LIHEAP Clearinghouse; CSV.
Questions
How much of income do Oklahoma households spend on energy?
3.0% for all households ($2,369 of $80,011) and 11.5% under 60% of median income. U.S.: 2.2%, 8.3%.
Who is hit hardest in Oklahoma?
Households under 30% of median income: 25.5%, 152,546 homes spending $1,872 on $7,351.
How many Oklahoma homes get LIHEAP heating help?
56,204 in FY2024, 15 per 100 homes under 60% of median; not a take-up rate.
Is electricity the whole Oklahoma energy burden?
No: electricity is 2.0% of 3.0%; gas and other fuel are the rest.