Prevalence and Predictors of Energy Insecurity Among United States Households with Children

Energy insecurity, defined as the inability to meet household energy needs due to limited financial resources, is an understudied problem with potential adverse impacts on child health. In the United States, households with children are more likely to experience energy insecurity, but little is known about which households are most at risk. In addition, few studies have investigated the relationship between energy insecurity and other forms of household material hardship.

We analyzed nationally representative data from the United States (U.S.) 2022-2024 Household Pulse Survey administered by the U.S. Census Bureau. We used descriptive statistics to estimate national and state-level prevalence of energy insecurity among households with children. We then used multivariable logistic regression to examine the association between energy insecurity and other household material hardships, specifically housing insecurity (being behind on rent or mortgage payments) and food insufficiency (not having enough food for all members of the household).

Among 505,794 survey respondents, weighted to represent 30,864,951 households with children under 18 years of age across the U.S., almost half (49.2%) reported energy insecurity within the past year. State-level prevalence of energy insecurity ranged from 37.5% in Washington, DC to 60.9% in Mississippi. In multivariable logistic regression models, homeowners who were behind on mortgage payments (odds ratio (OR) 4.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.51-5.34) and renters who were behind on rent payments (OR 3.22, 95% CI 2.91 - 3.57) had increased odds of energy insecurity relative to homeowners who were caught up on mortgage payments. Food insufficiency (OR 5.40, 95% CI 5.07 - 5.75) was also associated with increased odds of energy insecurity.

Energy insecurity is highly prevalent among U.S. households with children. Families experiencing housing insecurity or food insufficiency have increased odds of also experiencing energy insecurity. To support children's health and well-being, pediatric health care providers should aim to identify and address both energy insecurity and other concurrent material hardships in clinical settings. Policymakers focused on improving child health should consider strategies for providing consolidated support to families experiencing multiple economic hardships, such as streamlining application and enrollment processes across energy, food, and housing-related government benefit programs.