Groceries Or Electricity: Half Of Low-Income Families Now Forced To Choose

Alarming survey shows families are showering in the dark and using phone flashlights for lighting to save on electricity

DALLAS — More than half of low-income American households are skipping meals and cutting back on food to keep the lights on, according to a new nationwide survey. The research exposes the brutal trade-offs families face as energy costs continue to climb.

The survey of over 1,000 Americans found that 52% of low-income households sacrificed food or groceries within the past year to pay utility bills. But the compromises don’t stop at the dinner table. One in six low-income families skipped necessary medical care or medication, while others cut transportation, internet service, or even missed rent payments just to avoid a power shutoff.

Researchers at Payless Power, the Texas electricity provider that commissioned the study, described a pattern where families treat electricity like a luxury they have to earn by giving up other essentials.

Larger Families Struggle Most With Rising Bills

Financial strain hits households of all sizes, but larger families bear the heaviest burden. Among families with five or more people, 30% fell behind on energy payments in the past year, compared to just 18% of single-person households.

Many families are turning to credit cards to bridge the gap. Nearly 40% of low-income households reported using credit to pay utility bills, a rate that climbs to 50% among Gen Z respondents and 40% among millennials. Baby boomers and Gen X families used credit less frequently, at 35% and 29% respectively.

Falling behind on payments brings swift consequences. Thirty-nine percent of low-income households missed electricity payments within the past year. Nearly one in three received at least one shutoff notice, and 11% actually had their power cut off entirely.

The fear of disconnection looms large. Fifty-nine percent of low-income families worry their electricity could be shut off within the next 30 days. That anxiety far exceeds the rates among middle-income households (41%) and upper-income families (18%).

For families already stretched thin, a single unexpected expense can trigger a cascade of problems. A car repair or medical bill can mean choosing between keeping the power on or buying groceries for the week. The margin for error has essentially disappeared.

Families Resort to Flashlights and Candles to Save Money

Families are making extreme adjustments to cope with energy costs. More than half of low-income households went without heat or air conditioning for several days in the past year because they couldn’t afford to run it.

One in eight low-income families now uses flashlights or phone lights instead of flipping light switches. Nearly one in 10 relies on candles for lighting, and 9% reported showering in the dark to shave dollars off their bills.

These aren’t temporary measures. For many families, these have become regular habits, woven into daily routines. Parents coordinate schedules so everyone showers during daylight hours. Children do homework by candlelight or phone flashlight. Families gather in single rooms to minimize the need for multiple lights.

The lack of climate control creates serious safety risks. Twenty-nine percent of low-income households said they felt physically unsafe at home due to extreme heat or cold. In 24% of struggling families, children or pets had to stay elsewhere because indoor conditions became unbearable.

Sending children to stay with relatives or friends during heat waves or cold snaps has become a survival strategy. Pets get dropped off at neighbors’ homes when indoor temperatures climb too high. What should be a safe haven becomes a place families need to escape.

Adding to the problem, nearly a quarter of low-income households (23%) don’t know how to track their energy usage. Without understanding which appliances or behaviors drive up costs, families have no clear path to reducing their bills. They make blind cuts, often sacrificing comfort without seeing meaningful savings.

Energy Stress Hits Gen X Households Hardest

Low-income households are twice as likely as middle-income families to describe their electricity bills as “highly stressful,” and more than three times as likely compared to upper-income households.

Among generations, Gen X feels the pressure most acutely, with 18% reporting high stress over electricity costs. Millennials (17%) and baby boomers (15%) also struggle with energy-related anxiety, while Gen Z reports the lowest stress levels at 11%.

The stress manifests in different ways across age groups. Gen X households, often sandwiched between supporting aging parents and raising children, face compounding financial pressures. Millennials, many of whom entered the workforce during economic downturns, have less financial cushion to absorb rising costs. Baby boomers on fixed incomes watch their buying power erode as utility rates climb.

The psychological toll extends beyond bill-paying anxiety. Parents report feeling guilt and shame when they can’t maintain comfortable temperatures for their children. Some describe lying awake at night calculating whether they can afford to run the air conditioning during the next day’s predicted heat wave. Others ration electricity usage by the hour, creating elaborate schedules that dictate when family members can charge devices, cook meals, or do laundry.

As energy prices rise, the pressure on vulnerable households intensifies, forcing impossible decisions that no family should face. For millions of Americans, the choice between food and electricity isn’t hypothetical anymore. It’s a monthly calculation that endangers their health, safety, and dignity. The survey makes clear that energy poverty isn’t an abstract policy problem but a daily reality affecting what families eat, whether they stay healthy, and if they feel safe in their own homes.

---