Texans are feeling the heat this summer, both from the high temperatures and the high energy bills. With electricity prices climbing faster than inflation and heat waves driving up AC use, families across the state are scrambling for ways to manage skyrocketing costs.
The scoop
As reported by the Houston Chronicle, northeast Houston residents lined up at the Carl Walker Jr. Multi-Purpose Center in August, each with their own application for federal utility aid.
Community groups spent months helping applicants prepare their paperwork, anticipating that the system would only be open for a few hours before hitting a cap. In past years, the typical applicant range was around 20,000 to 25,000 people. However, this year the demand was unprecedented.
The system crashed under the weight of more than 100,000 applicants competing for just 5,000 of the remaining slots…