A University of Houston survey found that 46% of residents surveyed had difficulty paying electricity or natural gas bills at least once in the past year.
A new University of Houston survey found that 46% of residents surveyed in the Houston area had trouble paying their energy bills at least once during the last year. The study examined how electricity and natural gas costs affect households in a region marked by extreme heat, outages, and growing energy demand.
The report was prepared by the Center for Public Policy at the Hobby School of Public Affairs of the University of Houston. The survey analyzes three topics linked to daily household life: how much it costs to keep a home powered, how efficient homes are, and how reliable the service is perceived during emergencies.
Concern is not limited to the monthly bill amount. According to the report, 12% of respondents spend more than 10% of their household income on energy, a share considered high within the energy burden analysis.
Low-income households face the highest burden
The survey found a marked difference by income level. Among households earning less than $30,000 per year, 51% face a high energy burden, while another 23% fall into a moderate category.
In households with incomes from $30,000 to $60,000, the proportion with a high burden drops to 10%. Among those earning $60,000 to $100,000, 94% remain below the 6% of income allocated to energy, according to the report.
The study classifies as a low burden those households that allocate less than 6% of their income to electricity and natural gas. The moderate burden ranges from 6% to 10%, while the high burden exceeds 10%.
The difference also appears by race and ethnicity. Black respondents recorded the highest share within the high energy burden category, at 22%. Among Hispanic respondents, the figure was 14%, the same percentage reported among people identified as another race or two or more races.
Most pay less than $200 a month, but many are already under pressure
The report indicates that most respondents pay less than $200 per month for electricity or natural gas. The most common bracket was $50 to $99 monthly, reported by 28% of participants.
Still, a sizable portion of households faces higher costs. 18.3% of respondents reported monthly bills of $250 or more. Within that group, 11.8% said they pay $300 or more per month.
Economic pressure appears even though some households do not have the highest bills. The 46% figure with difficulties paying at least once during the year shows that the problem also depends on income, job stability, home efficiency, and other basic expenses.
The Texas Trends 2025 state report, also from the Hobby School, found that about 45% of Texans pay more than $200 per month for electricity during the summer. That state analysis also reported that 21% of Texans struggled to pay their energy bills at least three times during the previous year.
Home efficiency influences the monthly cost
The Houston area survey found gaps in housing conditions. Although many families have made improvements to reduce energy losses, 39.5% of respondents rated their home as not very efficient or not efficient at all.
The report mentions items such as energy-efficient windows, ENERGY STAR appliances, additional insulation, and smart thermostats. About four in ten respondents reported having some of these upgrades.
Less efficient homes can lead to higher air conditioning use during the hot months. In Houston, that difference weighs more during the summer when high temperatures and humidity force many families to keep their homes cool for longer periods each day.
The survey also reflects a common concern in low-income households: paying energy can compete with other essential expenses. In the Texas Trends state report, 19% of respondents said that in the past year they had to choose between paying electricity or natural gas and meeting needs such as food, medications, or rent.
Electric reliability remains a concern after outages and storms
The survey did not only measure costs. It also asked about service reliability. In the Houston area, 78.1% of respondents said they were very or somewhat concerned about prolonged electricity outages.
Concern about water was even higher: 80.8% expressed worry about prolonged water service interruptions. The report places these responses in a region that has faced outages, hurricanes, severe storms, and extreme heat in recent years.
Another figure points to the monthly budget impact: 64.8% of respondents said they worried about energy costs being higher than expected.
Pressure on the electric grid is also part of the context. The Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute reported that electricity rates in the ERCOT competitive market have risen by about 30% since 2021 and project another 29% increase between 2025 and 2030.
The growth of electricity demand in Texas includes residential expansion, infrastructure, industry, and data centers. For households in the Houston area, the University of Houston survey shows how these changes are felt in monthly bills, less efficient housing, and concern about prolonged outages.
