For the low-income U.S. population, the continuing escalation of utility expense exacerbates financial distress and challenges the quality of utility revenues. But research has shown that the poor, in spite of having energy burdens four times that of the average residential household, exhibit no worse credit behavior than any other customer class. People with low incomes often sacrifice food, medicine, and health just to maintain utility service. Working multiple low-paying jobs or living on a fixed retirement income, these individuals are still found helping others in the community. The deadbeat personas assigned to these customers are unfounded. In fact, the low-income represent a valuable market segment within utility service territory. Forty-seven million individuals live near poverty, occupying 35 million households. Together, these households represent 28% of the $159 billion U.S. home energy market. Poverty and the Public Utility will show how utilities focused on serving the