More Americans are having to choose between food and energy bills

Charlotte, N.C. — During the heat dome that blanketed much of the Southeast in June, Stacey Freeman used window units to cool her poorly insulated mobile home in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Over the winter, the 44-year-old mom relied on space heaters.

In both instances, her energy bills reached hundreds of dollars a month.

"Sometimes I have to choose whether I'm going to pay the light bill," Freeman said, "or do I pay all the rent or buy food or not let my son do a sport?"