Americans will be wiping sweat off their foreheads this month, so get ready to crank up those air conditioners. July tends to be the hottest month of the year in the contiguous U.S., and as a result it has the highest energy consumption. With mercury rising, consumers can expect the heat to drain not only their energy supply but also their wallets.

In the United States, 7.1 percent of the average consumer’s total income is spent on energy costs, including fuel, natural gas and electricity. And during the summer, when many Americans undergo major life transitions such as relocating to start a new job or start a family, the difference in energy costs among states becomes an important financial consideration.

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