A new Consumer Reports survey found that about one-fifth of Americans have cut back on groceries to keep up with electricity bills.

Nearly one in four respondents said they have adjusted their heat or air conditioning to uncomfortable levels to try to lower monthly energy costs.

Here's what to know

Among people who had lived in the same home for at least three years, roughly 80% said their electricity bills had increased over that period, according to a Consumer Reports survey of more than 2,000 adults nationwide cited by CBS News. The biggest share, 28%, reported increases of 20% to 49%.

"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. 

To cover utility costs, Enright said, "People are cutting back on food" and "non-essentials like vacations and eating out." 

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More background

Many Americans in the survey said they see utilities' profit motives and the spread of data centers as drivers of higher power bills. CBS News cited Schneider Electric, an energy management company, as forecasting a 16% rise in U.S. electricity demand by 2029, driven largely by data centers.

The survey also found that most respondents were not convinced state utility regulators were looking out for them. Enright told CBS News, "The public is becoming increasingly distrustful that government is looking out for them, and this is true across party lines."

Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, said that more middle-income households are seeking government energy aid even when they earn too much to qualify. The federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program covers only households earning under 60% of their state's median income.

What can be done?

Consumer Reports is launching a new initiative, Power Smarter, to help households lower energy costs. One part of that effort is the CR Bill Decoder, which allows consumers to send in electric bills so the nonprofit can strip identifying details, study patterns, and chart pricing nationwide.

Bill Decoder "is intended to be a simple first step for anybody who wants to learn more about their energy bill and how they can take more power over their bill," Enright said, according to CBS News. "We anonymize it and aggregate the data that we collect from it, and we'll be doing national-level and state-level evaluations of what's driving energy costs, and using that information to advocate for the American consumer to keep energy costs affordable."

For readers who own a home and want to compare solar options directly, EasyHome's free explorer tool can show pricing and estimated savings from vetted installers in your area. EasyHome can also help you explore backup battery storage options, and pairing solar with a battery lets homeowners maximize savings and keep the power on when the grid goes down.

Where can I learn more?

These stories dig into some of the forces driving electricity bills up and adding to financial stress. 

• Across the U.S., families are losing sleep over costs as power bills fuel mistrust.

• As utilities court big tech, data center tariffs are shifting, raising costs for households.

• In Texas, massive new power consumers have strained the grid while seeking profit.

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