The sound of a pipe bursting somewhere inside my wall, followed by a torrent of water gushing from my kitchen cabinet, interrupted one of my work calls a week ago. The culprit: freezing temperatures in Pittsburgh. The estimated cost of repairs: $950 and counting. I had taken all the recommended steps, such as keeping the thermostat above 55°F and running a constant trickle of hot water through the system, but these measures weren’t enough when it was -5°F outside.
This unfortunate scenario isn’t unique. Every winter, numerous households find themselves struggling to find a balance between saving money on energy bills, staying warm and avoiding costly water damage from burst plumbing. For some, it’s an affordability challenge — the cost of energy creates an incentive to avoid turning on the hot water or turning up the heat, despite the risks to property and health.
If you’re struggling to keep your home warm while juggling other essential expenses, you’re not alone—and help is closer than you might think.
I’ve dedicated my professional life to addressing energy affordability and insecurity using data-driven insights. This commitment led to the creation of Peoples Energy Analytics (PEA), an organization that bridges the gap between analytics and action to make a tangible difference in people’s lives.
At PEA, we turn numbers into solutions, creating algorithms to identify families in need and connect them with resources to make ends meet. In a world where algorithms often feel impersonal or harmful, we work in collaboration with utility companies to use algorithms as a force for good — helping people stay warm and safe.
Our work has revealed a troubling reality: Many low-income households don’t use enough energy to keep their homes safe during extreme weather. In the winter, they hesitate to raise the thermostat, worried about costs, even though thermostats should be set at 55°F or higher to prevent frozen pipes.
That’s where PEA’s approach comes in. By analyzing energy usage patterns, billing trends and temperature fluctuations, we partner with utility companies to identify struggling households and connect them with help.
An example of this is the pilot program we recently launched in partnership with Peoples Natural Gas to identify customers at risk of falling behind on their bills and guide them toward assistance programs. By building on Peoples’ existing outreach efforts, this initiative connects Allegheny County families with resources like the federally funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or Peoples’ Customer Assistance Program (CAP), which provides monthly discounts to qualifying households.
For example, a family of four earning up to $62,400 annually qualifies for CAP, yet many eligible families remain unaware of such resources. Our mission is to raise awareness and increase enrollment, helping more families keep their homes safe and warm without fear of financial strain.
If you or someone you know needs help with your energy bills, here are four steps to get started:
• Check your eligibility: Many assistance programs base eligibility on income and household size. Even if you’re unsure, it’s worth checking; income thresholds are often higher than expected.
• Keep your contact information current: Make sure your phone number and email address are up to date so you don’t miss important updates from your utility company.
• Apply early: Programs like LIHEAP have limited funds and application deadlines, so applying early increases your chances of getting help.
• Use available resources: Utility companies often provide assistance information on their websites. Peoples customers can use the ProgramFinder tool to quickly and confidentially connect with the right assistance program.
Our work reminds us that behind every dataset is a family trying to make ends meet.
Destenie Nock is CEO of Peoples Energy Analytics and an assistant professor in civil and environmental engineering at Carnegie Mellon University.