What Is Energy Burden and Why Does It Matter?
What Is Energy Burden and Why It Matters in Rural Northern California
by Lizzy Velthoen,
CivicSpark Fellow
Energy burden is a growing challenge for many households across rural Northern California, where older homes, changing weather conditions, and high utility costs can make energy bills difficult to manage. Many families face trade-offs when a larger share of their income goes toward energy expenses, but small efficiency improvements and support programs like the Northern Rural Energy Network can help lower costs, reduce energy waste, and improve home comfort over time.
Understanding Energy Burden
Energy costs are a consistent concern for many households across rural Northern California. In places like Lake County, Mendocino County, Humboldt County, and communities throughout the Sierra Nevada region, it’s common to see higher utility bills even when energy use feels fairly moderate. A lot of this comes down to what’s known as energy burden, or how much of a household’s income goes toward energy costs. In rural areas, that share is often higher than in more urban parts of the state.
This doesn’t always show up in obvious ways. More often, it looks like the small adjustments people make over time to manage costs. That can include limiting heating or cooling, using space heaters instead of central systems, or putting off replacing older appliances. These are practical decisions, but they don’t always lead to lower bills.
Why Energy Costs Are Higher in Rural Areas
In many cases, the issue isn’t just how energy is being used, but how well the home itself is functioning. That said, there usually isn’t one single cause. Instead, it’s often a combination of factors that are common across the region. Many homes are older and weren’t built with today’s energy efficiency standards in mind. Over time, insulation, sealing, and equipment can wear down, and even small gaps or aging systems can lead to higher energy use.
Weather also plays a major role. In higher elevation areas, winters can be long and cold. In inland communities, summers can bring high cooling demand. Along the coast, including parts of Mendocino and Humboldt counties, homes often need steady heating throughout the year because of cooler temperatures and moisture.
On top of that, energy costs in California are high, especially for customers of Pacific Gas and Electric Company. That means even average energy use can still result in expensive monthly bills.
Challenges to Improving Energy Efficiency
There are also practical challenges when it comes to making upgrades. In rural areas, it can be harder to find contractors, and larger improvements like insulation or system replacements can be expensive. It’s not always clear which upgrades will make the biggest difference, so many households continue using what they already have.
When a larger share of income goes toward energy, people often have to make trade-offs. That might mean keeping the home cooler in the winter or warmer in the summer than they’d prefer, or delaying maintenance and upgrades. Over time, that can affect both comfort and how efficiently a home operates.
Small Changes Can Still Make a Difference
The good news is that not every improvement needs to be a major project. In many cases, smaller changes can help reduce unnecessary energy use. Sealing drafts, switching to LED lighting, and unplugging unused electronics are all relatively simple steps. Larger improvements like insulation, heating and cooling systems, or appliance upgrades can have a bigger impact, but they’re not always realistic to take on all at once.
For many households, the first step is simply understanding where energy is being used and where it might be getting lost.
How NREN Can Help
Programs like the Northern Rural Energy Network are designed to help with that. NREN offers no-cost home energy assessments, energy efficiency kits, and rebates for qualifying upgrades. These services are meant to help residents identify practical improvements and reduce energy costs over time.
High energy costs are a reality for many households across rural Northern California, even for those who are already trying to be mindful about energy use. Everyday habits do make a difference, but how a home is built and maintained often plays an even bigger role. Understanding where energy is being lost is usually the first step toward lowering costs, improving comfort, and making a home more energy efficient over time.
About the Northern Rural Energy Network:
Northern Rural Energy Network (NREN) offers energy efficiency programs to rural communities, delivering cost savings and strengthening community resilience for the North Coast and the Sierra Nevada. More information on NREN’s services can be found at NorthernREN.org.
Discounts on energy bills for qualified households
California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE):
Low-income customers that are enrolled in the CARE program receive a 30-35 percent discount on their electric bill and a 20 percent discount on their natural gas bill.
To request an application form and more information, please contact your utility company or check out their websites for more information.