The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, states July tends to be the hottest month of the year, causing utility bills to spike. Georgia ranks near the top of the list when it comes to monthly energy costs. That’s according to a recent study by the personal finance website WalletHub, on 2021’s Most and Least Energy-Expensive States. Georgia was ranked the fourth most energy-expensive state in the nation.
Energy costs consume between five and 22 percent of a family’s total after-tax income, with the poorest Americans, or some 25 million households, paying the highest of that range. Analyst Jill Gonzalez says there are some changes which can curb those expenses.
“Well, everything from going solar, to making sure that your house is up to date, in terms of any type of repairs, new windows, new appliances, you know all of those things that actually eat up more electricity than you would think,” according to Gonzalez.
The study compared all 50 states, plus Washington D.C., which was ranked the least expensive place for energy coasts, with resident paying about $217 monthly compared to $374 for Georgians. Those in the most expensive state, Connecticut, spend more than $400 each month on energy costs.