Due to recent heatwaves, electricity bills have soared up to 2-3 times the usual amount. A Korean resident, Mr. Kim, living near Glendale, LA, was stunned when he received a bill from the Glendale Water and Power Company. His combined electricity bill for July and August totaled $990. “I’ve lived in the U.S. for over 30 years, and this is the first time my electricity bill has reached $1,000,” said Kim. “All I did was use the air conditioner during the heatwave when temperatures were over 100°F, just like every other year, but my bill jumped from about $350 to nearly three times that amount,” he added.

Another Korean resident, Mr. Choi, who lives in LA’s Koreatown, was also upset as his electricity bill for July and August exceeded $400 each month. He lamented, “With prices rising and insurance costs increasing, I tried to save on utility bills by setting the air conditioner to 80°F, but my electricity bill was still much higher than usual. With climate change making heatwaves worse in the future, I don’t know how I’ll manage the electricity bills.”

It appears that many Korean residents are facing "electricity bill shocks" as utility companies begin sending out bills following California’s recent extreme heatwave. With daily temperatures exceeding 100°F, using air conditioning at home or work became unavoidable. However, many are dismayed to find their electricity bills up to 2-3 times higher than usual. This increase is particularly alarming as power companies have steadily raised their electricity rates, meaning that even using the same amount of electricity as last year results in much higher bills this year. According to the LA Times on the 22nd, the rates of California’s three major utilities—Southern California Edison (SCE), San Diego Gas & Electric, and Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)—have increased by 110% over the past 10 years.

The main reason for the spike in electricity bills is the rise in temperatures due to climate change, which has led to a surge in air conditioning usage and overall electricity consumption. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) had previously warned in an analysis report that "as temperatures rise higher than expected, electricity bills are likely to increase," particularly affecting southern states.

SCE spokesperson Gabriela Ornelas stated, "Total energy consumption has the biggest impact on monthly electricity bills," and explained that "the unprecedented heat has led to increased energy use, which is why bills have risen."

In addition, other factors such as utility companies upgrading their transmission and distribution systems, wildfire recovery efforts, and public service projects to recover costs for rooftop solar incentives have also contributed to the electricity bill increases. The National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association and the Energy Poverty and Climate Center had predicted that the cost of cooling homes during the summer across the U.S. would rise 8%, from $661 in 2023 to $719. However, given the record-breaking temperatures in recent months, the average cost is expected to rise even further.

To avoid skyrocketing electricity bills, it’s crucial to change energy consumption habits. The period from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. during the summer months of June through September is when peak energy usage occurs. Using electricity during these hours results in higher charges than at other times.

The LA Times recommended developing habits like charging laptops, phones, and tablets before 3 p.m. or after 9 p.m., and unplugging electronic devices when not in use. Power companies also noted that setting your home temperature below 78°F can lead to a significant increase in energy consumption.



<Hongyong Park>