Vermont's 2023 Energy Burden Report
Energy burden is the percentage of a household’s income spent on electricity, heating, and transportation. Measuring this burden is a powerful way to understand the impact of energy costs across the state, and where energy expenses are highest. Spending on energy competes with other household costs like food, housing and health care. Understanding energy burden, and tracking it over time, can informs state programs and efficiency measures that aim to address high energy costs.
The 2023 Energy Burden Report finds the average Vermont household energy burden is 11 percent. About half of that spending (45 percent) is for transportation. Heating, or thermal energy, accounts for another 35 percent, with 20 percent for electricity.
In all, it adds up to more than $7,000 in energy spending annually.
The 2023 report builds on Efficiency Vermont's 2019 report and its 2016 predecessor. This year’s report uses data primarily from 2017-2021. It provides energy burden analysis at the town level, finding the most-burdened communities are in rural areas and in the Northeast Kingdom. This year’s report also calculates energy burden at the census block group level, revealing some of the most-burdened communities are also in cities like Barre, Rutland, St. Johnsbury and Manchester.
Additionally, the report tracks efficiency programs and clean energy technologies that can help reduce costs and energy use.
Download the full report below, or review our interactive maps of energy burden. We've also created maps, graphics, and other resources in our Media Kit to help you understand the report and utilize its findings in your own work.
Download Energy Burden Report by Town