Extreme heat hits Americans where it hurts most: Electricity bills, travel plans and outdoor activities, poll finds

Washington: Extreme heat is increasingly reshaping the daily lives of Americans, with higher electricity bills, disrupted travel plans, reduced outdoor activities and sleep disturbances emerging as some of the most significant impacts, according to a new survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll found that Americans are more likely than they were two years ago to report that extreme heat has affected various aspects of their everyday lives, particularly in the western and midwestern United States. Among the most widely felt impacts, about eight in 10 Americans said extreme heat had either a major or minor effect on their household electricity bills over the past year, up from 69% in July 2024. The increase is particularly noticeable in the Midwest, where 44% of respondents said extreme heat had a major impact on electricity costs, compared with 29% two years earlier. The findings come as households across the country grapple with rising cooling costs and increased energy consumption during prolonged periods of high temperatures. The survey also found that around 40% of Americans said extreme heat had affected their travel or vacation plans, up from roughly one-quarter in 2024. Many respondents reported changing plans because of wildfire risks, flooding concerns and increasingly severe summer weather conditions. Outdoor activities have also been affected. Approximately seven in 10 Americans said extreme heat had impacted their family's outdoor activities, compared with about six in 10 in 2024. Parents reported disruptions to sports activities and outdoor recreation as temperatures become increasingly difficult to manage during summer months. Sleep has emerged as another area increasingly affected by extreme heat, with many respondents saying they are altering daily routines to cope with hotter conditions. Some reported waking up earlier to exercise or complete outdoor tasks before temperatures rise. The survey reflects the growing influence of extreme heat across the United States as scientists continue to rank recent years among the hottest ever recorded globally. Climate experts note that prolonged heatwaves not only affect personal comfort but also increase health risks, strain critical infrastructure, worsen drought conditions, heighten wildfire danger and place additional pressure on agriculture and water resources. Despite growing reports of personal impacts, public opinion on climate change remains divided. According to the poll, 66% of Americans believe climate change is happening, down slightly from 73% in September 2025. Meanwhile, 17% said they were unsure, while 15% said they do not believe climate change is occurring. The AP-NORC survey was conducted between 23rd and 27th July 2026 and included 1,165 adults from across the United States. The margin of sampling error was plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.