POLLING: Residents Expect Energy Cost Squeeze This Winter 

A November poll by the University of New Hampshire (UNH) finds that Massachusetts residents anticipate another financial squeeze as cold temperatures set in this winter.

UNH reports 64 percent of those surveyed said that they were worried about winter energy costs in Massachusetts this year. This is a 10 percent increase from the 54 percent concerned in last year’s survey. 

The poll reveals that concerns about heating expenses during winter are pervasive across demographics in Massachusetts, underscoring the widespread impact of rising energy costs.

Unsurprisingly, lower-income households are the most affected, with 80 percent of those with a household income below $75,000 reporting concerns about heating expenses. Additionally, only 4 percent of people aged 65 or older, many of whom live on fixed retirement incomes, were not at all worried about winter energy costs.

One possible explanation for this is that rising heating costs, coupled with broader inflation and overall higher costs of living, can erode middle-income earners’ financial security.

Yet, it is not just people on fixed incomes in retirement or those in lower salary brackets who are concerned about the rising cost of heating in Massachusetts. 66 percent of those earning between $100,000 and $150,000 are worried about winter energy costs, with only 4 percent saying they were not at all worried, and 42 percent of those earning $150,000 or more reported they were worried about winter energy costs, with only 14 percent saying they were not at all worried.This heightened concern over heating costs reflects the broader economic anxieties facing many households as they prepare for the colder months.

Nearly 30 percent of Massachusetts residents believe their household’s financial situation has gotten worse in the last year, while just 18 percent feel their situation has gotten better. That ratio gets worse for middle income households: four out of ten residents with a household income between $100,000 and $150,000 believe their financial situation has worsened in the last year.

As for the business environment in Massachusetts, only 21 percent of respondents anticipate good times for state businesses, a significant drop from 35 percent in May. ​Meanwhile, 28 percent foresee bad times, and over 50 percent expect mixed conditions. 

The rising concern about high heating costs in Massachusetts this winter are just one example of Bay Staters feeling the effects of the high cost of living in the state. The economic pressure is particularly acute for lower-income households and retirees, but even middle-income earners feel the pain. Ultimately, the financial strain is widespread and has eroded confidence in both personal and business financial security. 

MOA’s September poll of Mass. residents found 76 percent believed cost of living concerns were pushing people to leave Massachusetts. The data from the UNH poll further emphasizes that in order to stay competitive, the Commonwealth must tackle the cost of living crisis.