Ohio households are staring down a pricier summer, with the average family expected to shell out about $672 on electricity between June and September. Higher retail and wholesale power costs are colliding with hotter weather, which keeps air conditioners humming longer and louder. For low-income residents, that is a particularly rough combo, since federal and state aid usually covers only a fraction of what it actually costs to stay cool all season.
NEADA outlook: costs climb nationwide and regionally
The National Energy Assistance Directors Association’s latest seasonal forecast projects that the average U.S. household will spend about $778 on electricity from June through September, an 8.5% jump over last year and about 37% higher than in 2020, according to a report by NEADA. In that analysis, Ohio falls in the East North Central region with a projected summer cooling tab of roughly $672.
The steepest increases are concentrated in the South, where some households could see seasonal power bills clear $900. NEADA ties the overall cost crunch to a mix of higher retail electricity prices, rising grid and capacity expenses, and hotter summers that drive up air-conditioning demand.
LIHEAP and Ohio's safety net
The federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, helps qualifying households cover both heating and cooling costs, but the program is on the chopping block in this year’s budget talks. NEADA has warned that the President’s FY2027 proposal would strip about $4 billion from LIHEAP and cut support for roughly 6 million households nationwide, while urging Congress to instead boost funding to $7 billion. 'Low-income families need support now more than ever,' NEADA executive director Mark Wolfe said in a statement to NEADA.
In Ohio, reporting from Cleveland.com notes that roughly 250,000 residents receive LIHEAP assistance each year. The state’s Summer Crisis benefit averages about $303, which is barely half of the projected $672 seasonal cooling bill.
Political reaction in Ohio
The looming cuts and rising bills are already echoing through Ohio politics. In a statement to Cleveland.com, U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown argued that 'instead of lowering costs for Ohioans, Trump keeps raising them' and framed the proposed LIHEAP reduction as one more reason she opposed the budget.
Republican spokespeople, for their part, stressed pocketbook concerns without weighing in on specific dollar amounts. A spokesperson for Bernie Moreno said the senator is focused on lowering costs for hardworking Ohioans, while a spokesperson for Jon Husted said that bringing down energy and utility bills is a priority and that he would work to set funding levels that meet the needs of low-income Ohioans.
Where to find help and practical steps
Households looking for relief can find program details and application steps through the LIHEAP Clearinghouse and the state’s Summer Crisis Program resources, which list local energy service providers and eligibility rules. For short-term bill help and consumer advice — including reminders to use the PUCO Apples to Apples price-comparison tool and to be cautious about door-to-door supplier pitches — local guides from News 5 Cleveland walk through some practical options.
For official program details and instructions on how to apply, visit the LIHEAP Clearinghouse and the Ohio Department of Development.
What lawmakers could do
NEADA is pressing Congress to raise LIHEAP funding to $7 billion to keep pace with higher demand and rising energy costs, but the final number will be hammered out in appropriations negotiations. The American Public Power Association notes that the administration has previously floated eliminating LIHEAP, only for Congress to increase funding instead. That history suggests another bruising budget fight ahead in Washington, just as millions of households brace for higher cooling bills.
