Rising power costs now reach into the American kitchen. A new Consumer Reports survey finds that about 1 in 5 Americans have cut back on groceries, or considered buying cheaper food, to afford their electricity bills. Roughly a quarter have also turned their heating or air conditioning to uncomfortable levels, or considered it, to save money. The findings show the tough trade-offs households make as utility costs climb and other prices rise alongside them.

Most Households Report Higher Bills

The nationally representative survey polled 2,003 U.S. adults. Among those who have lived in the same home for at least three years, 81% said their electricity bills had increased over that time. The largest share, 28%, reported that their bills surged between 20% and 49%.

Federal data back up those experiences. Electricity prices across major U.S. cities have jumped 14% over the last three years. That increase arrives at a time when many families already struggle with the cost of living.

Among respondents whose bills went up, about 3 in 4 said the higher costs strained their household finances. For millions of families, the electric bill is no longer a routine utility expense. It has become a monthly decision point that competes with food and other basics.

Households respond in different ways. Some switch to less expensive foods, while others trim discretionary spending such as eating out and traveling. Many people still pay the utility bill first, because they need the lights on and the refrigerator running.

Lower-Income Families Carry the Heaviest Load

The burden does not fall evenly. People with annual household incomes below $85,000 were more than twice as likely as higher earners to say the increases strained their finances a lot. That income threshold covers a wide swath of working households with little room to absorb a sharp price jump.

Consumer Reports singled out students, retirees, and others on fixed incomes as especially exposed when bills suddenly spike. These households cannot easily stretch their budgets, so a surprise charge in the middle of summer can force painful choices. Many respondents also said they find utility bills difficult to understand, which makes budgeting and pushing back even harder.

What Consumer Reports Is Hearing

“We’re hearing a lot of folks who don’t know what they can possibly do to afford rising [electricity] rates,” Sara Enright, senior director of safety and energy at Consumer Reports, told CBS News. “Vulnerable populations like students and retirees who live on a fixed income don’t have a lot of flex in their budgets, and so when they get a surprise bill in the heat of the summer, it can be frightening.”

Enright said consumers often put the utility bill first because power is non-negotiable. That priority pushes other spending down the list, and food is one of the places where households find savings.

“People are cutting back on food” to pay their utility bills, Enright said. “They’re definitely cutting back on non-essentials like vacations and eating out.”

Affordability Pressures Pile Up Before the Midterms

Electricity is not the only cost squeezing families. Americans also face sharply higher gasoline and diesel prices amid increased oil costs linked to the war in Iran. Together, these pressures deepen the affordability crunch just weeks before the midterm elections.

Other polls show that voters feel the strain. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that cost of living, healthcare, food prices, gasoline costs, and housing top the list of household expenses voters want lawmakers to address. An October survey from Climate Power, a clean energy advocacy group, found that the cost of food is the top concern for voters in battleground states. Gas prices and utility bills follow close behind.

Who Americans Blame for Higher Bills

Consumer Reports found that Americans blame higher electric bills on utility companies seeking to maximize profits and on the rapid buildout of data centers. The group also highlighted concerns about trust, as many consumers grow increasingly wary of the regulators who oversee utilities. Looking ahead, electricity demand is forecast to increase 16% by 2029, which keeps the question of who pays for the grid squarely in front of households.

For now, the survey paints a clear picture of strain across the country. Families are adjusting their thermostats, their grocery carts, and their weekend plans to keep the power on. As the midterms approach, energy costs sit alongside food and gasoline as a pocketbook issue that voters cannot ignore.

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