Can households afford energy in Virginia?
41st of 51. All Virginia households: 1.9% ($2,240 of $115,512). Same income group, U.S.: 8.3%. Under 30% of median: 15.8% on $11,243. Renters 2.2%, owners 1.9%.
Virginia burden by income bracket
At or above 6% in Virginia: under 30%. Together 11% of homes (376,126 of 3,289,776).
Virginia burden, % of income
- 15.8Under 30%
- 5.730% to 60%
- 3.760% to 80%
- 2.980% to 100%
- 1.3Over 100%
Getting the average under-30% household in Virginia down to 6% takes $1,097 off its $1,772 energy cost, or $18,290 more income.
Virginia income, cost and burden
| Bracket | Virginia homes | Share | Virginia income | Electric | All energy | Virginia burden | U.S. burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30% | 376,126 | 11% | $11,243 | $1,360 | $1,772 | 15.8% | 17.0% |
| 30% to 60% | 524,339 | 16% | $35,379 | $1,499 | $2,006 | 5.7% | 6.3% |
| 60% to 80% | 343,320 | 10% | $57,675 | $1,575 | $2,135 | 3.7% | 4.3% |
| 80% to 100% | 324,586 | 10% | $75,356 | $1,622 | $2,219 | 2.9% | 3.4% |
| Over 100% | 1,721,404 | 52% | $181,809 | $1,702 | $2,438 | 1.3% | 1.6% |
| All | 3,289,776 | 100% | $115,512 | $1,609 | $2,240 | 1.9% | 2.2% |
Renters, owners and fuel in Virginia
Renters pay $1,454 on $66,202 (2.2%); owners $2,629 on $139,961 (1.9%); U.S. 2.4% and 2.2%. Most common fuel: electricity, 57% of homes. Heaviest burden: fuel oil, 5.4%.
| Virginia heating fuel | Homes | Share | Virginia income | All energy | Burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 1,860,000 | 56.5% | $97,702 | $1,942 | 2.0% |
| Utility gas | 1,077,483 | 32.8% | $153,628 | $2,376 | 1.6% |
| Bottled gas (propane) | 139,041 | 4.2% | $118,817 | $3,527 | 3.0% |
| Fuel oil | 122,280 | 3.7% | $78,665 | $4,249 | 5.4% |
| Wood, coal, solar and other | 90,972 | 2.8% | $72,659 | $2,049 | 2.8% |
Your burden against Virginia
Help and shutoff rules in Virginia
FY2024 LIHEAP heating help: 101 homes, 0 per 100 under 60% of median.
FY2026 funding snapshot $103,925,790, $115 per such home.
Eligibility listed: 150% Federal Poverty Level Weatherization: 60% State Median Income.
Benefits listed: Heating: $181 minimum, $634 maximum Cooling: $50 minimum, $700 maximum Winter Crisis: $4,200 maximum.
- Virginia LIHEAP office, phone 855-635-4370
- Clearinghouse snapshot, Virginia
- Virginia help with your bill
Cold-weather clause: Electric utility may not disconnect residential customer for nonpayment when forecast low is at or below 32 F within the 24 hours after the scheduled disconnection (NWS local forecast).
Read: Va. Code 56-245.1:3 and 56-245.1:4; 56-247.1(A)(4); 20VAC5-330-10 to -40, checked 2026-10-02; some utilities only.
Not legal advice. Ask your Virginia utility.
Highest-burden Virginia counties
129 counties with 1,000+ homes; top: Emporia city at 5.0%, lowest of the 129: Arlington County at 0.8%.
| Virginia county | Homes | Income | All energy | Burden | Under 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emporia city | 2,245 | $55,497 | $2,754 | 5.0% | 11.5% |
| Martinsville city | 5,628 | $55,940 | $2,723 | 4.9% | 11.6% |
| Lunenburg County | 4,566 | $64,560 | $3,062 | 4.7% | 11.3% |
| Charlotte County | 4,540 | $62,333 | $2,872 | 4.6% | 11.2% |
| Covington city | 2,503 | $55,249 | $2,504 | 4.5% | 8.7% |
| Halifax County | 13,519 | $62,408 | $2,801 | 4.5% | 10.5% |
| Nottoway County | 5,415 | $72,588 | $3,206 | 4.4% | 11.3% |
| Grayson County | 6,148 | $57,272 | $2,512 | 4.4% | 9.7% |
Next to Virginia in the ranking
More
Sources
DOE LEAD 2022; LIHEAP Clearinghouse; CSV.
Questions
How much of income do Virginia households spend on energy?
1.9% for all households ($2,240 of $115,512) and 7.5% under 60% of median income. U.S.: 2.2%, 8.3%.
Who is hit hardest in Virginia?
Households under 30% of median income: 15.8%, 376,126 homes spending $1,772 on $11,243.
How many Virginia homes get LIHEAP heating help?
101 in FY2024, 0 per 100 homes under 60% of median; not a take-up rate.
Is electricity the whole Virginia energy burden?
No: electricity is 1.4% of 1.9%; gas and other fuel are the rest.