US EditionCash-Strapped Americans Shouldn’t Fund Big Tech’s Data Centers
Democratic senators probe whether AI data centers cause electricity bills to rise, citing a 267% price surge near data center areas and demanding cost transparency from seven firms.
- Three Democratic U.S. senators opened a probe, sending letters dated Monday to Google, Microsoft Corp., Amazon.com Inc., Meta Platforms Inc., CoreWeave, Digital Realty and Equinix demanding documents on electricity use and contracts by January 12, 2026.
- Lawmakers say utilities spent billions on grid infrastructure for AI data centers and may recoup costs from ratepayers within 50 miles, whom Bloomberg News found saw rates rise up to 276% over five years.
- A DOE projection shows data-center consumption risks rapid growth through 2028, with a typical 100 megawatt data center paying $3.4 million beyond electricity use while 70% of US households saw rising costs over the past year.
- Utah, Oregon and Ohio have passed laws creating a separate utility-customer class for data centers, while Ari Peskoe warned regulators face growing pressure and Amazon argued in a white paper Tuesday its data centers pay more than required in some regions.
- The secrecy of utility–data center contracts has prompted calls for transparency from lawmakers, as Microsoft Corp. and Amazon.com Inc. reported nearly $35 billion in capital expenditures, while senators warned ordinary American families bankroll these costs amid rising household expenses.
13 Articles
13 Articles
U.S. lawmakers investigate Big Tech’s role in rising electric bills
Three Democratic U.S. senators opened an investigation into how data centers are driving up monthly consumer power bills by sending letters demanding answers to seven firms developing the facilities, including Alphabet Inc.’s Google, Microsoft Corp. and Amazon.com Inc.
US Lawmakers Investigate Big Tech's Role Pushing Up Power Bills
(Bloomberg) — Three Democratic US senators opened an investigation into how data centers are driving up monthly consumer power bills by sending letters demanding answers to seven firms developing the facilities, including Alphabet Inc.’s Google, Microsoft Corp. and Amazon.com Inc.
US Lawmakers Investigate Big Tech Role’s Pushing Up Power Bills
Three Democratic US senators opened an investigation into how data centers are driving up monthly consumer power bills by sending letters demanding answers to seven firms developing the facilities, including Alphabet Inc.’s Google, Microsoft Corp. and Amazon.com Inc.
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