(NewsNation) — As the dog days of summer roll on, Americans are facing sticker shock over the cost of keeping cool.

Electricity prices have climbed twice as fast as the overall cost of living in the last year, according to a recent Consumer Price Index report.

According to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, the average household power bill is expected to jump to nearly $800 from June to September — marking a 12-year record and a 6% increase from last year's average.

Low-income Americans are struggling the most, and 29% of Americans are late on paying at least one bill, according to CivicScience data from March. The soaring costs have outpaced grocery prices, which have seen a sharp increase.

The federal government spends about $4 billion a year to help low-income fam

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