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Household Income

The use of natural gas for any end use and as the main heating fuel was approximately the same regardless of household income category (Figure 1). In contrast, natural gas consumption and expenditures per household did vary by household income—higher income households consumed more and spent more on average (Figures 2 and 3). Higher income households lived in larger housing units, which require more energy for heating. Natural gas prices varied little by household income (Figure 4).

Figure 1. Percent of Households That Use Natural Gas by Household Income, 1997
Figure 1. Percent of households that use natural gas by household income
Notes:
1. Poverty line: Low-income classification defined by U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Office of Management and Budget.
2. Eligible for Federal assistance: Below 150 percent of U.S. poverty line or equal to, or below, 60 percent of median State income.
Source: Residential Energy Consumption Survey 1997.

Figure 2. Natural Gas Consumption per Household by Household Income, 1997
Figure 2. Natural gas consumption per household by household income
Notes:
1. Poverty line: Low-income classification defined by U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Office of Management and Budget.
2. Eligible for Federal assistance: Below 150 percent of U.S. poverty line or equal to, or below, 60 percent of median State income.
Source: Residential Energy Consumption Survey 1997.

Figure 3. Natural Gas Expenditures per Household in 1997 by Household Income
(Based on 1997 and 2001 Prices)
Figure 3. Natural Gas Expenditures per Household by Household Income, 1997 Prices and Projected 2001 Prices
Notes:
1. Poverty line: Low-income classification defined by U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Office of Management and Budget.
2. Eligible for Federal assistance: Below 150 percent of U.S. poverty line or equal to, or below, 60 percent of median State income.
Source: Residential Energy Consumption Survey 1997 and EIA, Short-Term Energy Outlook February 2001.

Figure 4. Natural Gas Prices by Household Income, 1997
Figure 4. Natural gas prices by household income
Notes:
1. Poverty line: Low-income classification defined by U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Office of Management and Budget.
2. Eligible for Federal assistance: Below 150 percent of U.S. poverty line or equal to, or below, 60 percent of median State income.
Source: Residential Energy Consumption Survey 1997.

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