Energy bills have soared for Massachusetts residents. And many people are struggling to keep up with the costs.
Some are trying to find relief by attending customer assistance events hosted by National Grid, where they can meet with a representative to find ways to save money.
“It’s very hard. The jobs, they keep paying you the same money, and all the bills go up,” said Brockton resident Louisane Joseph, who works two jobs as a nurse and teacher. ”So we need to get help wherever we can.”
Joseph attended a recent National Grid event held at the Cape Verdean Association of Brockton, where about a dozen people were already lined up as organizers set up tables.
Joseph said she just paid over $260 for her electricity — about $100 more than she paid the same time last summer. On top of her high bill, she also received a letter from her supplier telling her her rate is about to go up.
“That aggravates me,” Joseph told a National Grid representative as she explained her situation. “This is tough.”
Joseph was able to switch from her third party supplier to National Grid, which had a lower rate. She also qualified for some energy assistance programs based on her income.
“ I’m so happy,” Joseph said, relieved. “Now I’m going to see a big difference in my bill, and I’m so grateful for that.”
There are lots of reasons why electricity bills have skyrocketed in recent years. A big one is natural gas, which is used to make electricity. Gas prices are volatile and the region faces supply constraints in the winter. Another big reason is infrastructure. The electric grid is old and needs upgrades. Demand for power is also growing, so utility companies have been on a building bonanza. The cost of all this is passed on to customers.
Extreme weather is another factor. It takes more energy to cool your home when it gets really hot. Stanley Demesmin, an Uber driver, experienced that sticker shock this summer.
“This year was a little scorcher,” he said. “So it’s either have that bill or sweat all night.”
Demesmin said he usually uses two air conditioning units, but had to cut back when his energy bill almost tripled.
“I stopped using the second AC,” Demesmin said. “We were like, ‘You know what? We’re just going to block off the rooms we’re not using at the time and just use the essential rooms.’ ”
Others are making different kinds of tradeoffs. Kristen Almeida, a waitress, fell behind on her electric bill and said she has to pick and choose what she can pay each month. So, some bills just don’t get paid.
“And then that bill kind of rolls over,” Almeida said. “It’s kind of like what happened with the electric bill. I was stealing from Peter to pay Paul, and then Paul came and said, ‘Hey, guess what? It’s time for you to pay me, too.’ ”
With higher costs for things like gas and food, some people are forced to find drastic ways to balance their bills. This is especially difficult for people on a fixed income like Rose Mendes.
“Sometimes I have to go without my meds or I go to the grocery store and get the essentials, whatever, just to get by,” Mendes said. “And if it’s something I can do without, then I do without.”
And that’s the reality for many people.
“What we’ve been seeing in Brockton is very sad, because we have a lot of people that their electric bill is so crazy,” said Neusa Ferreira, an outreach assistant at the Cape Verdean Association of Brockton.
The organization has helped thousands of people in the community get assistance with their energy bills and other expenses, according to Ferreira.
“ I’m seeing a lot of people that are having so much stress, coming here crying, and by the time they leave, they will be a little happy with the help,” Ferreira said.
As people left the center, the National Grid representatives reminded them to sign up to get help this winter, too. Energy prices aren’t expected to fall anytime soon. And cooler weather won’t help people’s pockets as heating bills start coming in.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
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