Senators probe role of AI data centres in rising power bills

Three Democratic senators said on Tuesday that they are investigating whether and how the operations of technology companies are driving up residential electricity bills.

- IVAN PENN KAREN WEISE

In letters sent on Monday to Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and three other companies, the lawmakers said the energy needs of data centres used for artificial intelligence were forcing utilities to spend billions of dollars to upgrade the power grid. Energy companies typically recoup the money they invest in equipment through the rates they charge all users of electricity.

The senators — Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut — said they were concerned that customers other than the tech companies would be stuck footing the bill, especially if the AI boom ended.

“We write in light of alarming reports that tech companies are passing on the costs of building and operating their data centres to ordinary Americans as Al data centres’ energy usage has caused residential electricity bills to skyrocket in nearby communities,” the senators said.

Most of the companies said they did not have an immediate comment. CoreWeave did not respond to a request for comment. One company, Digital Realty, said in a statement that it “looks forward to working with all elected officials to continue to invest in the digital infrastructure required to support America’s leadership in technology.”