Americans face a 25 percent jump in their power bills this summer as more people stay home and leave their air conditioners running, according to Bloomberg, based on analyst estimates and the U.S. Department of Energy. This summer is projected to be very hot, and so those unemployed or working from home will be even more reliant on their air conditioners, whereas before, some people may have enjoyed cool temperatures courtesy of their employers.

This means that, on average, people will be paying about $50 more per month, a sum that could be manageable for middle- and upper-class individuals but may severely stress others who, faced with the economic chaos of the global pandemic, may be hard pressed to pay. Bloomberg quoted Sindy Benavides, CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens, a Washington-based civil rights group, who said,"There will be people faced with figuring out whether to pay their bill or put food on the table."