The mercury has been soaring for weeks now as summer temperatures have reached record-breaking levels throughout the United States and the world. For many, staying cool isn’t a luxury. It’s a matter of life and death. And, of course, staying cool doesn’t come for free. Rising temperatures lead to skyrocketing energy bills for consumers, and when those bills aren’t paid, utility companies are disconnecting service, putting customers at risk.

It’s a bigger problem than you may think. Researchers at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs have been studying the issue of energy insecurity by tracking disconnections utility by utility across the country, and what they found is that one-quarter of Americans experience energy insecurity each year. Three million Americans have their electricity shut off annually because they can’t afford to pay their bills.

We’re joined by Lynton K. Caldwell Professor David Konisky, whose research focuses on U.S. environmental policy and politics, with particular emphasis on environmental and energy justice, regulation, federalism, and public opinion. He also is the co-director of IU’s Energy Justice Lab and helped develop a dashboard at utilitydisconnections.org that tracks the growing crisis of energy insecurity.

O’Neill Speaks is the official podcast of the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. All opinions and comments on O’Neill Speaks belong to the host and guest of the O’Neill School and don’t necessarily reflect those of the school itself. Music for O’Neill Speaks is by Manos Mars.