As Austin keeps getting hotter, Austin Energy shutoffs for nonpayment have increased by more than four-fold over the last four years.
Data from the publicly owned utility shows shutoffs skyrocketed from 7,777 in 2022 to more than 35,000 last year. But the increase in shutoffs comes as the utility has made big strides helping struggling customers pay their bills.
Part of the reason that the number of shutoffs are increasing is because it’s more expensive to get energy to customers, so bills are going up…