Our Authors

Marcia Washington — Affordability & Assistance Editor

Marcia Washington is an editor on the Utility Explained team, focusing on utility budgeting, assistance programs, and keeping service on.

Marcia Washington

Role: Affordability & Assistance Editor

Marcia Washington is the editorial byline for Utility Explained’s Affordability & Assistance desk. It identifies the desk responsible for guides about budgeting for utilities, level-pay plans, assistance programs, and avoiding shutoffs.

Read the full guide: How to budget for utilities in your first apartment is a representative desk piece. Budget benchmarks use the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s state-average price series and CFPB payment-help guidance, cited with retrieval dates.

How we got these numbers

Cost ranges reflect typical U.S. utility bills and are labeled as estimates, not guarantees. Rates, climates, and providers vary by region. Read our methodology to see how we calculate and review these figures.

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By Utility Explained · Editorial Team

Utility Explained's editorial team decodes utility bills so you don't have to. Read our editorial standards.