Can households afford energy in Oregon?
46th of 51. All Oregon households: 1.8% ($1,729 of $98,163). Same income group, U.S.: 8.3%. Under 30% of median: 12.8% on $9,679. Renters 2.0%, owners 1.7%.
Oregon burden by income bracket
At or above 6% in Oregon: under 30%. Together 11% of homes (176,952 of 1,682,180).
Oregon burden, % of income
- 12.8Under 30%
- 4.830% to 60%
- 3.360% to 80%
- 2.780% to 100%
- 1.3Over 100%
Getting the average under-30% household in Oregon down to 6% takes $655 off its $1,236 energy cost, or $10,921 more income.
Oregon income, cost and burden
| Bracket | Oregon homes | Share | Oregon income | Electric | All energy | Oregon burden | U.S. burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30% | 176,952 | 11% | $9,679 | $958 | $1,236 | 12.8% | 17.0% |
| 30% to 60% | 267,493 | 16% | $31,010 | $1,133 | $1,484 | 4.8% | 6.3% |
| 60% to 80% | 180,260 | 11% | $49,494 | $1,193 | $1,624 | 3.3% | 4.3% |
| 80% to 100% | 171,022 | 10% | $63,017 | $1,203 | $1,673 | 2.7% | 3.4% |
| Over 100% | 886,453 | 53% | $152,767 | $1,304 | $1,933 | 1.3% | 1.6% |
| All | 1,682,180 | 100% | $98,163 | $1,218 | $1,729 | 1.8% | 2.2% |
Renters, owners and fuel in Oregon
Renters pay $1,130 on $57,667 (2.0%); owners $2,078 on $121,780 (1.7%); U.S. 2.4% and 2.2%. Most common fuel: electricity, 53% of homes. Heaviest burden: fuel oil, 4.5%.
| Oregon heating fuel | Homes | Share | Oregon income | All energy | Burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 886,158 | 52.7% | $79,267 | $1,449 | 1.8% |
| Utility gas | 627,528 | 37.3% | $129,209 | $1,901 | 1.5% |
| Bottled gas (propane) | 31,765 | 1.9% | $94,480 | $2,518 | 2.7% |
| Fuel oil | 23,970 | 1.4% | $82,340 | $3,675 | 4.5% |
| Wood, coal, solar and other | 112,759 | 6.7% | $78,289 | $2,334 | 3.0% |
Your burden against Oregon
Help and shutoff rules in Oregon
FY2024 LIHEAP heating help: 55,478 homes, 12 per 100 under 60% of median.
FY2026 funding snapshot $40,482,105, $91 per such home.
Eligibility listed: 60% State Median Income Weatherization: 200% Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Benefits listed: Heating: $250 minimum, $750 maximum Cooling: $250 minimum, $750 maximum Crisis: $1,000 maximum.
Programs named for Oregon: Utility discounts; Columbia River PUD; Emerald PUD; Pacific Power.
- Oregon LIHEAP office, phone 503-986-2000
- Clearinghouse snapshot, Oregon
- Oregon help with your bill
Oregon has a cold-weather clause; wording on the help page.
Read: OAR 860-021-0407 (severe weather), 0410 (medical), 0405 (notice), 0415 (payment), 0320, 0305, checked 2026-10-02; some utilities only.
Not legal advice. Ask your Oregon utility.
Highest-burden Oregon counties
33 counties with 1,000+ homes; top: Harney County at 4.5%, lowest of the 33: Benton County at 1.5%.
| Oregon county | Homes | Income | All energy | Burden | Under 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harney County | 3,102 | $58,441 | $2,650 | 4.5% | 9.7% |
| Grant County | 3,368 | $68,025 | $2,657 | 3.9% | 11.9% |
| Lake County | 3,364 | $63,807 | $2,298 | 3.6% | 10.0% |
| Malheur County | 9,952 | $58,459 | $2,045 | 3.5% | 8.5% |
| Baker County | 7,004 | $66,943 | $2,128 | 3.2% | 9.3% |
| Wallowa County | 3,271 | $75,608 | $2,317 | 3.1% | 9.6% |
| Morrow County | 4,201 | $78,589 | $2,261 | 2.9% | 6.8% |
| Klamath County | 28,186 | $66,869 | $1,816 | 2.7% | 7.4% |
Next to Oregon in the ranking
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Sources
DOE LEAD 2022; LIHEAP Clearinghouse; CSV.
Questions
How much of income do Oregon households spend on energy?
1.8% for all households ($1,729 of $98,163) and 6.2% under 60% of median income. U.S.: 2.2%, 8.3%.
Who is hit hardest in Oregon?
Households under 30% of median income: 12.8%, 176,952 homes spending $1,236 on $9,679.
How many Oregon homes get LIHEAP heating help?
55,478 in FY2024, 12 per 100 homes under 60% of median; not a take-up rate.
Is electricity the whole Oregon energy burden?
No: electricity is 1.2% of 1.8%; gas and other fuel are the rest.