Electricity Bills Force Americans to Pick Between Groceries and Comfort

29 October 2026

A new survey by Consumer Reports finds that rising electricity costs are forcing households to make tough financial tradeoffs. Among people whose bills have increased, 3 in 4 said the hike strained their household finances, while nearly 1 in 5 have reduced their grocery spending or switched to less expensive food to make ends meet.

The survey paints a picture of broader affordability pressure in the U.S. In 2023, 44 percent of Americans reported trouble paying for at least one basic necessity, according to Pew Research. Energy emerged as the top financial worry for 13 percent of Americans, its highest level since 2008, according to Gallup.

Nearly Half of Homes Unable to Cover Necessities

The Consumer Reports survey polled 2,003 U.S. adults as part of its Power Smarter initiative. Eighty-one percent of those who had lived in the same residence for over three years said their electricity bills had increased. Nearly 3 in 4 pointed to the energy costs rise as a strain on household finances.

Those households facing the bill surge have had to make cuts to get by. One in four reported reducing heating or cooling to uncomfortable levels. About the same percentage have cut back on groceries or are looking to find cheaper food options.

Around a quarter of respondents had reduced non-essential spending, while many more were considering it. "People are having to choose between buying groceries and powering their homes," said Patrick Rose, chief advocate at Consumer Reports. "It's just not right."

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Survey Shows Utility Profits, AI, Infrastructure as Key Factors

When asked to assess the drivers of rising electricity bills, 45 percent of survey respondents pointed to utility company profits. A similar share cited the rising power demand of data centers and artificial intelligence systems. Nearly as many blamed fossil fuel price changes and energy infrastructure repair costs.

Public Perception: Utility Profits and AI Data Centers Drive Bill Increases

These opinions are stoked by a broader context of financial pressure. In 2023, 16 percent of adults didn't pay all of their bills, and 8 percent said family members sometimes went without food, according to the Federal Reserve. Households are feeling squeezed as 45.5 percent of households did not earn enough to cover their necessities, found a 2023 analysis by the Brookings Institution.

Electricity Bill Increases a Symptom of Wider Affordability Crisis

The pressure isn't limited to electricity. The Urban Institute says nearly half of American families cannot afford living costs, and residential electricity bills outpaced earnings in 31 states between June 2022 and 2023. This systemic affordability crisis means rising electricity bills are one burden in a stack of cost concerns impacting household budgets across the board.