Journal of the Korean Housing Association ISSN:2234-3571(Print) 2234-2257(Online) 한국주거학회논문집

This study explored low-income households’ experiences and perception of home energy cost burdens and determinants of the perceived home energy cost burdens. Between March and July 2014, a questionnaire survey was administered in Cheongju, South Korea. Among the 434 useable responses collected, responses from 218 households with monthly income less than 2,500,000 Korean Won (KRW) were compared with those of 216 households with higher incomes. The main findings are as follows. In the past three years, more than 10 percent of low-income households had had their electricity cut off; 5.7 percent had had their city gas cut off. To pay for their home energy expenses, nearly 70 percent of the low-income households had had to limit their heating, cooling or spending for other necessities; 38.3 percent had to borrow money. Low-income households reported more problems paying for home energy than higher-income households did. Households with more negative evaluation of rainwater leak, no one staying at home all day, monthly income less than 1,500,000 KRW and householders in their 40s and 50s tended to perceive a heavier home energy cost burden. Finally, the most popular support programs were fuel assistance and discounts on energy bills.