Electricity bills force 1 in 5 Americans to cut back on food, Consumer Reports finds

Key Points:

• A Consumer Reports survey reveals that about 20% of Americans have cut back on groceries to afford rising electricity bills, and around 25% are reducing heating or air conditioning to uncomfortable levels to save on energy costs.
• Approximately 80% of long-term residents report increased electricity bills over the past three years, with 28% experiencing a surge of 20% to 49%, coinciding with a 14% rise in electricity prices across major U.S. cities.
• Rising utility costs, driven by factors like higher natural gas prices, increased electricity demand from data centers, and ongoing electrification, are exacerbating financial strain on American families, especially vulnerable groups such as retirees and students on fixed incomes.
• Many Americans distrust utility companies and regulators, blaming profit-driven motives and inadequate government protection for soaring energy costs, leading more middle-income households to seek energy assistance despite income limits.
• Consumer Reports is launching the Power Smarter initiative, including the CR Bill Decoder tool, to help consumers understand and manage their energy bills by collecting anonymized data for analysis and advocacy to keep energy costs affordable.