Canadians Adjust Energy Habits Amid Rising Cost of Living
A recent survey conducted by Compare the Market reveals that more than a quarter of Canadians—27%—have made significant changes to their energy consumption habits in response to the rising cost of living. An additional 48% report being affected by increasing costs, while 18% say they have been largely unaffected.
The survey, which polled 1,013 Canadian adults in April 2026 and was commissioned through PureProfile, highlights how households across the country are adapting their daily routines to manage higher utility expenses.
Bills on the Rise
When asked about changes to their energy bills over the past year, 70% of respondents said their costs had increased to some extent. Nearly a quarter—24%—reported that their bills had gone up “a lot,” while 19% said their costs remained about the same as the previous year.
Heating, Cooling, and Laundry See the Biggest Changes
Heating, cooling, and laundry emerged as the areas where Canadians made the most adjustments, as these are among the most energy-intensive activities in the home. The survey found that 38% of respondents used heating or air conditioning less frequently, while 48% reduced the effectiveness of their heating and cooling settings to cut electricity use.
Laundry habits also shifted, with 41% of Canadians switching to cold wash cycles. Additionally, 23% began running appliances during off-peak hours to take advantage of lower rates.
Other Energy-Saving Measures
Beyond heating and laundry, Canadians adopted a range of other strategies to reduce energy consumption. Almost a third—31%—took shorter showers, and 42% replaced traditional lighting with energy-saving bulbs.
Few Canadians Compare Energy Providers
Despite the widespread impact of rising costs, the survey found that only 7% of Canadians compared energy suppliers in the past 12 months to find a cheaper or more suitable rate. Meredith O’Brien, head of energy at Compare the Market, emphasized that shopping around for better energy plans can make a meaningful difference.
“Comparing available energy plans is important because when prices go up, you don’t want to pay more than you have to,” O’Brien said in a statement. “You may be able to find plans with cheaper rates, and anything you can do to reduce the cost of your energy use can have an impact on your electric bill. You can do that along with other energy-saving measures at home. These things together can really help reduce energy bills.”
