Alan Barreca in UCLA Newsroom: Low-income households more likely to have power disconnected after hot summers

Low-income homes in California are more likely to have their power disconnected about two to three months after days when the temperature exceeds 95 degrees Fahrenheit than they are at any other time of year. That’s because that’s when customers receive overdue notices for bills related to their utility use during those hot days.

“For low-income households, having just one hot day during the August billing period can lead to a 1.2% increase in the chance of being disconnected in October,” said Alan Barreca, a UCLA economist and lead author of the study.