Percentage of income payment plans (PIPPs) and low-income rates are a proven tool for reducing energy burdens, with some successful implementations of a PIPP lowering the median total energy burden from 8.7% to 2.7%. In Rhode Island, one of the states with the highest energy bills, a PIPP could benefit at least 18% of households, where energy burdens reach 16%. Pairing energy assistance through rate design with energy efficiency investments can further reduce long-term energy burdens, delivering stable and long-lasting affordability for low-income households.
