One in Five Americans Is Cutting Groceries to Keep the Lights On

For some households, the electric bill is no longer just a monthly expense. It is competing with money for food. In a Consumer Reports survey, about 1 in 5 people said they had cut back on groceries or switched to less expensive food, or had considered doing so, to help pay an electricity bill.

The overlooked problem is the bill you don’t read. Electricity is hard to shop around for, often arrives as one total, and can be difficult to make sense of. Among Americans who read more than the total due, about 38% said their bill was very or somewhat difficult to understand. If you do not know what you are paying or how it changes over time, a higher bill can quietly squeeze the grocery budget before you make a deliberate choice.

Quick Answer

Before reducing food spending to cover a higher electricity bill, calculate your average monthly cost, compare the same month with last year, and ask your utility about rates, payment plans, and assistance. Check energy-saving steps and local aid before trimming groceries. If the bill is still unaffordable, call the utility before a missed payment or disconnection.

Knowledge Snapshot

• Among people who had lived in the same home for at least three years, 81% said their electricity bills had increased during that period.
• About 3 in 4 respondents whose bills increased said the increase strained their household finances.
• About 1 in 5 said they had cut back on groceries or considered doing so.
• Most surveyed Americans said they had made or considered at least one tradeoff or sought help paying an electricity bill in the past two years.

Start with the bill you don’t read

A single winter or summer bill can give a misleading picture of what electricity costs your household. Instead of making a budget decision from one unusually high month, find your annual average and your seasonal high.

1. Find your real monthly electricity number

Gather your most recent 12 months of bills. Add the amounts and divide by 12 to get your average monthly electricity cost. Then note the highest bill in that period. The average helps you budget; the high month helps you prepare for seasonal pressure.

If you do not have paper statements, check your utility’s online account or request a billing history. Add up the total amounts billed, not just the payments you happened to make, especially if you carry a balance.

2. Compare the same month year over year

Compare this month’s bill with the bill for the same month last year. To calculate the percentage change, subtract last year’s amount from the current amount, divide the difference by last year’s amount, then multiply by 100.

For context, 28% of all survey respondents said their bills had risen between 20% and 49% over the past three years. That is a three-year survey finding, not a direct comparison with a one-year change in your own bill. It can still help you recognize that a substantial increase is not something to dismiss without checking.

3. Find out what the bill is charging you for

If the bill separates supply charges from delivery charges, look at each section and note what changed. Supply usually refers to the electricity itself; delivery generally covers moving it through the local system. Names and bill layouts vary, so ask your utility to explain any unfamiliar line items.

It is reasonable to call and ask for a plain-language explanation. About 38% of people who read their bills said they found them difficult to understand. You are not expected to decode every charge on your own.

Ask the utility before changing your grocery budget

Ask the utility specific questions. You can use this checklist:

• Does the utility offer budget billing or a level payment plan?
• Are time-of-use rates available, and would they fit when my household uses electricity?
• Are there low-income discount rates or other bill-reduction programs?
• Can I set up a payment arrangement if I cannot pay the full amount?
• Does the utility offer a free or low-cost home energy audit?

About 1 in 5 survey respondents said they had looked up or considered looking up whether their utility had programs to reduce costs. If you have not checked, asking is a practical next step. A level payment plan may make monthly costs more predictable, but it does not necessarily reduce the total amount owed. Ask how the plan works and whether a balance can build up.

Check assistance before cutting food

Look for state utility assistance, the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), weatherization assistance, and utility hardship funds. Eligibility, application windows, and available help vary. Your state energy office and 211 can help point you toward local referrals.

These programs exist specifically to help households avoid having to choose between essential utilities and groceries. Applying may take time, so begin before a bill becomes overdue if possible. Ask what documents are needed and whether emergency assistance is available.

Reduce the bill before reducing the food budget

Start with steps that fit your home and do not create a safety or comfort problem:

• Ask whether your utility offers a free or low-cost home energy audit.
• Change furnace filters as recommended for your equipment.
• Check the water heater settings and adjust them only within safe guidance for your household and appliance.
• Seal drafts around windows and doors where practical.
• If you have a time-of-use rate, ask whether shifting high-use appliances to off-peak hours could lower your bill.

Consumer Reports found that most Americans want utilities to prioritize helping customers improve energy efficiency before producing more electricity. For an individual household, the useful takeaway is to ask what efficiency support is available before assuming the only answer is to cut spending elsewhere.

Put the electricity and grocery numbers side by side

Write down your monthly average electricity cost and your monthly grocery budget. If an electricity increase would force you to reduce food spending, work through the assistance and efficiency checklist first. Then review the food budget deliberately, rather than letting repeated bill increases shrink it by drift. A practical grocery budget can help you decide what changes are workable without losing sight of household needs. For a broader plan that includes utilities and food, see these budgeting steps.

If the bill remains genuinely unaffordable after you check assistance and options, contact the utility before disconnection. Ask about payment arrangements and any protections that may apply. Calling early usually gives you more time to understand the choices available.

What the survey can and cannot tell us

Consumer Reports reported that 81% of Americans who had lived in the same home for at least three years said their electricity bills had increased during that time. Among all respondents, 28% said the increase was between 20% and 49% over the past three years, 26% said it was less than 20%, and 6% said it was 50% or more. Among those whose bills increased, about 3 in 4 said the increase strained household finances. Households with incomes below $85,000 were more than twice as likely as higher-income households to say the increase strained finances a lot.

The survey also asked what respondents thought affected electricity costs. Utility company profits were cited by 45%, increased demand from data centers and AI systems by 38%, changing fossil fuel prices by 37%, and infrastructure updates and repairs by 36%. These are respondents’ views of cost factors, not an audited breakdown of what caused individual bills to rise.

Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit consumer organization founded in 1936. It accepts no advertising and pays for the products it tests. This survey was part of its Power Smarter initiative. Consumer Reports is also an advocacy organization that campaigns on energy issues, so its framing reflects that advocacy position. Its survey methodology is disclosed, and the sample included 2,003 U.S. adults.

As Sara Enright, Senior Director, Safety & Energy at Consumer Reports, said: “Americans are being asked to foot the bill for costs they didn’t create and can’t control. This survey shows people see through that. They want the costs and risks to stay with the corporate entities that create them, not residential customers.”

The survey release does not specify fielding dates. Its linked methodology document reports that interviews were conducted from April 27 through May 19, 2026.

FAQs: Rising Electricity Bills Are Squeezing Grocery Budgets

How much have electricity bills gone up?

Among Americans who had lived in the same home for at least three years, 81% said their electricity bills increased over that period. Across all respondents, 28% reported increases between 20% and 49%, 26% reported increases of less than 20%, and 6% reported increases of 50% or more.

Why are electricity bills rising?

The survey asked people what they thought affected electricity costs. Respondents most often named utility company profits, data center and AI demand, changing fossil fuel prices, and infrastructure updates and repairs. Those answers reflect public views, not a verified explanation for a specific household’s bill.

How do I find my real monthly electricity cost?

Gather 12 months of bills, add the amounts billed, and divide by 12. Keep the highest month as a separate seasonal reference, then compare each bill with the same month the year before.

What assistance is available for utility bills?

Depending on your location and eligibility, options may include state utility aid, LIHEAP, weatherization assistance, and utility hardship funds. Contact your state energy office or 211 for local referrals, and ask your utility about payment plans and discounts.

Should I cut groceries to pay my electric bill?

Check assistance, payment arrangements, rate options, and possible efficiency improvements before reducing food spending. If the bill remains unaffordable, contact the utility before disconnection and ask what arrangements or protections may be available.