All 6 New England states rank among 13 most expensive for energy nationwide

NH is the eighth most expensive state for energy costs, study finds. (Courtesy photo)

With around 27% of American households having experienced difficulty meeting their energy needs, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2022's Most and Least Energy Expensive States.

For a better understanding of Americans' energy costs relative to their location and consumption habits, WalletHub compared the average monthly energy bills in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia using a special formula that accounts for the following residential energy types: electricity, natural gas, motor fuel and home heating oil.

Energy Consumption & Costs in New Hampshire (1=Most Expensive; 25=Avg.):

• Avg. Monthly Energy Bill: $550
• 8^th - Price of Electricity
• 9^th - Price of Natural Gas
• 20^th - Price of Motor Fuel

For the full report, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/energy-costs-by-state/4833

Expert Commentary

What are some good tips for saving money on energy bills?

"For the long run, buy an energy-efficient vehicle. For local trips, your bicycle can save a lot of money. Make sure that your windows, insulation, heating, and air conditioning are efficient. Do not forget regular maintenance."
Johannes Urpelainen - Professor; Founding Director, Initiative for Sustainable Energy Policy (ISEP), Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)

"Energy bills are hard to avoid, especially in summer with so much going on. Probably the largest costs come from A/C and driving in the summer, so the usual tips apply. If you can, run the A/C at higher temperatures or not at all. Keep drapes pulled and windows open on the shady side of your home to take advantage of cool temperatures early or late in the day or at night. For driving, drive like there is an egg between your foot and the gas pedal. People can save a decent amount of fuel and increase fuel mileage by 10% or more if they drive a larger vehicle just by avoiding too much acceleration and maximizing coasting by anticipating traffic in front of you and avoiding using the brakes and gas to reduce acceleration and deceleration. If your vehicle has an instantaneous fuel mileage indicator, turn it on and try to manage your driving to maximize fuel mileage."
Robert Godby - Interim Dean and Associate Professor, University of Wyoming

Are tax deductions and credits effective at incentivizing households to be more energy efficient?

"Assuming people know about them, yes. A foundational principle of microeconomics is that people respond to incentives. Tax deductions and credits are one way to incentivize energy efficiency upgrades, and typically they are effective. Just look at the tax incentives for installing solar PV systems in California or the federal tax credits offered on electric vehicles. There is no question that these programs were effective in inducing consumers to install solar and purchase electric vehicles, respectively."
Matthew E. Oliver, Ph.D. - Associate Professor & Director of Undergraduate Programs, Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Economics

"These are certainly helpful. Many of the decisions are made during house construction that impacts the cost of energy. Consumers and builders have not been driven by costs that have a long return on investment. People tend to look at purchase price rather than the total cost for 10 years for example."
Kenneth Hellevang, Ph.D., PE - Extension Engineer and Professor, North Dakota State University

As economic activity has resumed and with many employees still working from home, what is the impact on energy production and prices?

"When employees are working from home, the energy needed for commuting decreases. On the other hand, people might run air conditioning or heating at home and that increases consumption. I would expect work from home to reduce oil demand and thus mitigate the high oil prices. But electricity and gas consumption could increase in some areas, resulting in higher prices."
Johannes Urpelainen - Professor; Founding Director, Initiative for Sustainable Energy Policy (ISEP), Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)

"Working from home has contributed to a reduction in transportation costs including fuel costs for many families and therefore reduced demand and prices from what they would be otherwise. It is hard to exactly estimate that impact as it depends on how households have adjusted. Have they bought a smaller car or gotten rid of it completely if they no longer need to commute as often? Conversely, have they traded a less comfortable, smaller more fuel-efficient car for a larger less fuel-efficient vehicle because they can now use it less and so have substituted reduced fuel use for a less efficient vehicle? Sometimes such opportunities can lead to fuel use reductions that are significant or less so depending on how the household chooses to use their savings. It should be noted that the ability to work from home has most often affected higher-income households who are in occupations that allow such arrangements, and therefore can be used to avoid higher fuel costs."
Robert Godby - Interim Dean and Associate Professor, University of Wyoming