极端高温和上涨成本加剧公用事业危机

极端高温和上涨成本加剧公用事业危机

法国的和平反政府抗议演变成暴力骚乱，商家评估损失。特朗普总统上周末竞选活动中声称中期选举从根本上是关于他的领导力。与此同时，由伊朗战争和极端夏热推动的能源成本飙升，导致美国面临日益严峻的公用事业账单危机。近一半的美国人难以负担基本生活，工资停滞不前，能源价格急剧上涨。去年夏天是美国有记录以来最热的一年，甚至超过了1936年的沙尘暴时期， prompting widespread air-conditioning use for survival.

As a result, about one in six U.S. households is now behind on utility payments. In hot-weather states, protections prevent disconnections during extreme heat, but these lapse in fall, leading to a surge in shut-offs. Eli Saslow’s reporting highlights the human toll, focusing on Genia Weitz and Daryl Mason in Mc Alester, Oklahoma, whose electricity bill exceeded their monthly income. They lived in a confined space to conserve cool air, relying on medical devices powered by electricity. After receiving a disconnection notice, Weitz secured a 30-day delay by proving a life-threatening condition, though the debt remains.

The Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) cited rising demand from extreme weather and new data centers, one of which could consume weekly more power than all Mc Alester homes use annually. Despite PSO’s below-average rates, relentless cooling needs drove bills to unaffordable levels, reflecting a broader national struggle.

来源: New York Times Top Stories · 由HeadlinesBriefing整理摘要