For Rebecca Michalski, opening her monthly electric bill has become a moment of profound dread. The February charge for her small West Virginia home soared to $940.08 – a sum that tragically surpassed her entire fixed income, leaving her in an impossible financial bind.
Despite her meticulous efforts to conserve energy, including turning off lights during the day and using a single energy-efficient bulb at night, Michalski finds herself increasingly behind on payments. A cut-off notice during an extended arctic blast, which saw temperatures regularly dip below zero and heaters working overtime, forced her to take out a loan in desperation.
