Climate One
Climate One
Climate One from The Commonwealth Club
ENCORE Dead Heat: The Danger Of Home Power Shutoffs
59 minutes Posted Jul 3, 2026 at 7:15 am.
Introduction
Jean Su on topline takeaways from nationwide data
Jean Su on why utilities don’t cover the cost of non-payment
Jean Su on polices to prevent shutoffs
Jean Su on the reality of underreported shutoffs
Sanya Carley on what happens to a household when a shutoff occurs
Sanya Carley on seeking help after a shutoff
Sanya Carley on federal impact on shutoffs
Sanya Carley on what state legislatures can do
Tamara Jones on working for justice
Tamara Jones on who is impacted by energy injustice
Tamara Jones on examples of where policy gets it right
Tamara Jones on what work needs to be done in policy and regulation
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Show notes
Summer is here, temperatures are rising — and so are electric bills. That also means many people are facing a severely overlooked issue: power shutoffs. According to a report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in 2024 utility companies disconnected U.S. households from electricity more than 13.4 million times due to a customer’s inability to pay. When that happens, people can’t turn on their lights, keep food refrigerated, or cool down the home. And regulations preventing shutoffs during extreme heat events are woefully inadequate. 
But when utilities help pay the upfront costs of efficiency upgrades, the customers and utilities can both save energy — and money. How do we protect the most vulnerable people from the dangers of home power shutoffs? 
Guests:
Jean Su, Energy Justice Director, Center for Biological Diversity 
Sanya Carley, Co-Director, Energy Justice Lab, University of Pennsylvania
Tamara Jones, Co-Executive Director, Clean Energy Works
Highlights:
For show notes, related links, and episode transcript, visit our episode page at climateone.org
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