AI Data Centers Push U.S. Electricity Costs Higher

Electricity bills are climbing across the United States, with the sharpest increases occurring near data centers that power cloud services, video streaming and artificial‑intelligence training. Wholesale power prices have risen as much as 267% over the past five years in those hotspots, according to Bloomberg analysis of regional transmission data. Demand from AI‑focused firms such as Microsoft, Meta, Google, Amazon and OpenAI is driving a projected doubling of data‑center electricity use by 2035. Grid constraints, aging infrastructure and the lengthy timeline for new transmission lines are limiting growth, prompting utilities and tech companies to adopt smarter sensors, dynamic line‑rating technology and on‑site renewable generation to meet the surge. Ler mais