How do multi-person households manage energy costs, and what challenges arise in maintaining financial harmony?
Our survey of 1,014 respondents offers insights into shared household electricity usage, generational differences, and cost-saving strategies. Shared households are living arrangements with roommates or multi-generational family members under one roof. Below, we explore how Americans in these setups divide and manage their energy expenses, highlighting the most common practices, their effectiveness, and the conflicts they sometimes cause.
Key Takeaways
- The most common way to divide shared energy costs in a household is to split them equally (56%), yet only 50% of users are very satisfied with this method.
- Per our research, 1 in 10 Americans in shared households feel their energy costs are unfair, particularly those paying based on individual usage (23%).
- Nearly 1 in 3 Americans in shared households (30%) have regular disagreements over energy usage — especially Gen Z (36%).
- The leading causes of energy-related disagreements are leaving lights and appliances on (51%) and changing thermostat settings (45%).
- Due to energy-related disputes, 1 in 8 Americans in shared households have considered moving out — especially Gen Z (17%).
- Limiting the use of heating and AC is widely seen as the most effective way to reduce energy costs, yet only 55% of Americans in shared households have done so.
- According to our survey, 1 in 10 Americans in shared households have implemented energy rules with penalties for violations — especially Gen Z (14%).
Disputes Over the Energy Cost Division
Household energy cost-sharing strategies can significantly impact both financial harmony and personal satisfaction. We asked energy consumers in shared households how they divide energy expenses and how the process impacts fairness and satisfaction among household members. For 56% of shared households, energy bills are split evenly.
Respondents shared that their average monthly energy bill costs $195. Besides how they split the cost, there’s also the matter of who completes the transaction to pay the electricity company. We found that 32% had one person paying the shared bill and the others reimbursing them.
Fewer than half of respondents (46%) in shared households said they were “very satisfied” with their household’s current method of managing and dividing energy costs. Satisfaction was highest among those splitting bills equally (50%) but dropped significantly when one person paid and others reimbursed (44%). Fewer respondents expressed satisfaction with rotating responsibility (31%) or dividing costs based on individual usage (26%)
Perceptions of fairness also differed depending on the cost-sharing method. While 1 in 10 Americans in shared households felt their energy cost share was unfair, the sentiment was much higher among those dividing costs based on individual usage (23%) and those using a rotating responsibility method (21%). Generational differences here were minimal, with Gen Z (11%), millennials (10%), and Gen X (12%) expressing similar levels of dissatisfaction.
One-fifth of Americans in shared households said their method of dividing the energy bill has led to disagreements. These issues were most common among Gen Z (25%, compared to 21% of millennials and 14% of Gen X). Nearly half of shared household members (47%) felt pressured to limit appliance use to save energy and avoid disputes. Nearly as many felt pressured to take shorter showers (43%) and reduce personal energy use (46%) to maintain household harmony.
What Sparks Energy Disputes?
Energy-related disagreements were a common source of tension in shared households. The most popular sources of disagreements were members of the household leaving lights or appliances on or changing the thermostat.
Nearly 1 in 3 Americans in shared households (30%) reported frequent disagreements over energy usage, with Gen Z (36%) being the most likely to do so compared to millennials (30%) and Gen X (24%). Only 27% of respondents had never experienced disagreements over energy usage. The most common causes of disputes included leaving lights and appliances on (51%) and changing the thermostat (45%).
Tensions sometimes escalated to covert actions. Nearly 1 in 5 shared household members (17%) admitted to secretly adjusting thermostats or unplugging appliances. This can be even more common among couples: In another recent Home Energy Club study where we surveyed 1,008 Americans in relationships to examine their daily energy habits, more than half of respondents (54%) admitted to secretly adjusting the thermostat, and 14% did it on purpose to annoy someone.
Some Americans (17%) accused someone in their household of “energy hoarding” — situations where a household member is perceived to consume an unfair or excessive share of energy resources. For example, they might do things like run a personal space heater or air conditioning unit in their private space. Another 14% of respondents reported being accused of the same. Gen Zers (18%) were the most likely to have faced such accusations.
Financial disputes also arose, with 1 in 16 Americans in shared households refusing to pay their share of the energy bill due to an energy-related dispute. Gen Z was the most likely to withhold payment, with nearly 1 in 10 having done so. These disputes led some to consider leaving their shared living arrangements altogether: 1 in 8 Americans had thought about moving out because of energy-related disagreements, with Gen Z (17%) expressing this sentiment more than millennials (12%) and Gen X (8%).
Top Ways To Cut Energy Costs
Shared households often implement strategies to reduce energy expenses, but adoption and effectiveness vary. Limiting the use of heating and air conditioning was considered the most effective way to reduce energy costs, yet only 55% of Americans in shared households said they had done so. An HVAC system can account for up to 46% of your household’s energy usage, so this is a great area to focus on to save energy.
In addition to limiting heat and AC usage, respondents found that turning off lights and appliances when not in use and adjusting their thermostats were the most effective ways to reduce costs. Relying on natural lighting and energy-efficient lightbulbs also ranked high.
When energy bills were shared equally, 73% of household members were more likely to compromise on their energy usage. Gen Z was the most inclined to make compromises, with 79% saying they adjusted their energy habits under equal cost-sharing arrangements.
Some households implemented formal rules to manage energy consumption, with 1 in 10 Americans saying their household had adopted energy rules that included penalties for violations. Gen Z was the most likely to have had such rules (14%), followed by millennials (11%) and Gen X (4%).
Key Insights on Energy Management in Shared Homes
Whether splitting bills equally, rotating responsibilities, or implementing energy rules, shared home energy management strategies can influence satisfaction, fairness, and even household harmony. Disagreements over energy usage can cause domestic disagreements, but they can also lead to energy-use compromises to maintain harmony.
Addressing areas of conflict before they harm household dynamics and adopting effective cost-sharing strategies that everyone feels are fair are the best ways to maintain a happy home. Working together to manage energy use also fosters financial stability and stronger connections between household members.
Methodology
We surveyed 1,014 Americans to explore the financial, social, and practical challenges of sharing energy costs in multi-member households. The generational breakdown of respondents was as follows: Gen Z (19%), millennials (53%), Gen X (23%), and baby boomers (5%). Survey data was collected on January 9, 2025.
About Home Energy Club
Home Energy Club is a trusted electricity comparison and consumer advocacy platform dedicated to helping homeowners save money and avoid unexpected charges on their energy bills. With rates often lower than those found on provider websites, we empower consumers to make informed decisions in the electricity marketplace.
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