Electric Bills Push Americans to Cut Grocery Spending

Rising electricity costs are forcing American households to reconsider spending on groceries, heating, cooling and other essentials, according to a Consumer Reports survey released October 21, 2026. The nationally representative poll of 2,003 U.S. adults highlights growing financial pressure as utility bills increase and regulators in North Carolina consider proposed rate changes.

Consumer Reports found that about 1 in 5 Americans had reduced grocery spending, switched to cheaper food or considered those steps to cover electricity bills. About 1 in 4 had reduced heating or air conditioning to uncomfortable levels or considered doing so.

Among respondents who had lived in the same home for at least three years, 81% said their electricity bills had increased. More than a quarter reported increases of 20% to 49%, while about three-quarters of respondents experiencing higher bills said the increases strained their household finances.

Households earning less than $85,000 annually were more than twice as likely as higher-income households to report that rising electricity costs strained their finances substantially. The survey also found that 38% of Americans who read their electric bills considered them somewhat or very difficult to understand.

Sara Enright, senior director of safety and energy at Consumer Reports, said consumers have limited control over rising utility costs.

"You can’t control the rising costs yourself," said Sara Enright, senior director of safety and energy at Consumer Reports.

Consumer Reports found that respondents identified several potential contributors to higher electricity costs. Utility company profits were cited by 45%, increased demand from data centers and artificial intelligence systems by 38%, fluctuating fossil fuel prices by 37%, and infrastructure upgrades and repairs by 36%.

Enright also described the difficulty households face when trying to manage rising rates in comments to CBS News.

"We're hearing a lot of folks who don't know what they can possibly do to afford rising rates," Enright said.

Consumer Reports has launched Power Smarter, an initiative designed to examine electricity prices and help consumers identify potential savings. Its free CR Bill Decoder allows households to submit electricity bills to find state-specific assistance programs and explanations of rates, fees and billing terminology.

The organization says it will use anonymized billing information to track price trends and investigate the factors driving higher costs. Consumer Reports is also advocating for lower electricity costs and greater accountability from utility companies.

Enright said the findings reflect concerns about how electricity expenses are distributed between utilities and residential customers.

"Americans are being asked to foot the bill for costs they didn't create and can't control," Enright said in a Consumer Reports statement.

The survey also found that about three-quarters of respondents trusted state utility regulators only a little or not at all to protect their interests. Just 1% said they trusted regulators completely.

Additionally, 84% supported establishing a separate electricity rate category for large users such as data centers. Half said data centers should cover all infrastructure costs for projects built primarily to serve them, while another 39% said those facilities should pay more than other customers.

In North Carolina, the findings come as regulators consider Duke Energy's proposed rate increases. The utility says the additional revenue would fund poles, wires and technology intended to maintain reliability as the state grows, including amid increasing electricity demand from data centers.

Caroline Fountain, a Duke Energy spokesperson, said the company had reduced its proposed increase while seeking to maintain reliable service.

"We’re working to keep reliability at the lowest possible cost, and that’s why we reduced our proposed rate increase by over half," Fountain said.

North Carolina residents can review electricity usage in Duke Energy's website and mobile app, compare consumption with previous billing periods, and use usage alerts to estimate bills before the billing cycle ends. The company's Bill Insights feature also provides personalized explanations of monthly costs and weather-related changes.

Customers can examine fuel charges, storm recovery costs, and other billing adjustments to understand changes in their totals. Consumer Reports recommends examining individual charges because unfamiliar services or billing errors can also increase expenses.

Local assistance options include the Low Income Energy Assistance Program and the Crisis Intervention Program, administered through county Departments of Social Services. Eligible households may also explore Energy Saver North Carolina, utility payment arrangements and assistance funds, although eligibility and funding vary.

Raleigh sustainability officer Megan Anderson said Electrify the Triangle, launched in October 2026, brings local governments, community organizations and energy experts together to help residents navigate home energy improvements and available incentives.

"There’s a lot for them to understand. The rules change all the time," Anderson said.

The partnership expands on Solarize the Triangle and includes weatherization and other clean energy improvements. Energy navigators will help residents evaluate options, identify incentives and understand their bills, while the initiative plans to assist contractors with rebate paperwork.

Anderson said the program is intended to reduce administrative obstacles for households pursuing energy upgrades, including residents who need to replace broken equipment immediately.

"We’re trying to break down those barriers and actually become the person that will do all that work for them, so it’s easier for them to pass along those savings to residents," Anderson said.