Summer Survey 2026 Reveals Millions Forced to Ration Cooling During Record Heat
The Cost of Keeping Cool is Making Australians Sick
Sweltering Cities has today released the findings of its 2026 Summer Survey, exposing a national health crisis driven by the rising cost of keeping cool. With data from over 2,600 respondents across 766 postcodes, the report proves that for many Australians the high cost of staying cool is having serious physical and mental health impacts.
The 2025/26 summer saw 68% of all respondents report feeling unwell due to heat. However, the survey reveals that this burden is falling most heavily on those already struggling with the cost of living. For renters and people with disabilities, the rates of heat-related illness climbed to 81% and 87% respectively. Read the full report here.
Key Findings of the 2026 Summer Survey:
- 61% of respondents say cost-of-living pressures directly impacted how they managed the heat. Nearly two-thirds of Australians (61%) admitted they ration air conditioning due to concerns about cost.
- 24% of people reported being concerned about energy costs on a daily basis, adding a significant mental burden to the health risks of extreme heat.
- 82% of people with disabilities said cost-of-living stress impacted their ability to manage heatwaves, with 39% worrying about energy costs every single day.
- 43% of people are being impacted by heat at work or school, yet nearly 40% say their employers or institutions are failing to do enough to keep them safe.
The 2026 Summer Survey followed another summer where millions of Australians were trapped in hot homes, baking suburbs, and dangerous workplaces. The data shows that cost-of-living and housing pressures are pushing people into dangerous heat, and the health consequences are severe.
The responses to this year’s survey prove that energy bill stress is a direct health risk. When people are forced to choose between a power bill and their own safety, they get sick. Staying cool in a heatwave shouldn’t be a luxury, it’s a necessity for survival.
These results add to a mountain of evidence showing that climate change is a public health crisis happening right now. We don’t need more strategies that look good on paper; we need action now to make our homes, workplaces, and energy systems safe for everyone as temperatures continue to rise.
Sweltering Cities is calling for urgent policy changes to prevent predictable harm, including:
- Mandatory heat safety and cooling standards for all rental properties.
- Access to clean, affordable energy for renters, low-income households, and people experiencing energy stress.
- Federal and state regulations for heat safety in all workplaces and schools.
