Survey of 2,003 U.S. adults examines bills, tradeoffs and utility regulation
Consumer Reports’ survey of 2,003 U.S. adults was part of the organization’s newly launched Power Smarter initiative, which aims to help U.S. households lower their energy costs. The results, reported Wednesday, October 21, 2026, covered household bills, financial strain, cost-cutting responses, respondents’ explanations for electricity prices and state utility oversight.
The survey found that 81% of people who had lived in the same house for at least three years said their electricity bills had climbed during that time. About 28% said their bills had increased by 20% to 49%, while 6% said the increases were more than 50%.
Among respondents whose electricity bills had increased, about three-fourths said the higher costs had strained their finances.
Respondents report bill tradeoffs and reduced heating or cooling
A majority of respondents said they had made or considered at least one tradeoff or sought help to pay an electrical bill over the past two years.
About 25% said they had reduced heating or cooling systems to “uncomfortable levels,” while about 20% said they had cut back on groceries, switched to cheaper brands or looked into doing so.
Respondents cite utility profits, data centers and fossil fuel prices
Consumer Reports reported that about 45% of respondents said “utility company profits” were the factor most responsible for what they paid for electricity at home. About 38% named “increased demand from data centers and AI systems,” while about 37% named “frequently changing fossil fuel prices.”
About 75% of Americans express limited trust in state regulators
About 75% of Americans said they trusted state utility regulators “only a little or not at all” to protect their interests, Consumer Reports said. In the release, the organization said: “These concerns point to a real risk: without strong oversight, utility companies will continue to increase their profits by pushing unnecessary costs onto U.S. households.”
Respondents say data-center financial risks and infrastructure costs should not fall on households
Respondents also generally said that the financial risks and infrastructure costs associated with data centers should not fall on residential customers, according to the release.
Consumer Reports said in its release: “Unlike other goods and services, Americans can’t just shop around for a better price” on electricity. The organization added: “Utility companies operate as monopolies and leave households with no choice but to pay an excessive price for a service they can’t live without.”
Sara Enright, senior director for Safety & Energy at Consumer Reports, said, “Americans are being asked to foot the bill for costs they didn’t create and can’t control.” Enright added: “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.”