8 ms·

What would you estimate is the annual electricity spend for those living next to data centers and those who don’t?

runtime_terror 3mo ago
Not sure how to answer this. It's pretty well documented that datacenters (esp the AI variety) are offloading grid expenses to customers as higher baseline costs. The issue is that these DCs are not paying for the cost of the necessary grid upgrades but are instead having the power cos pass these costs off to all consumers as base increases.
- fintechjock 3mo ago
  Found something. Not very exact data, but Virginia has the highest concentration of data centers per capita, but average electric bills: https://www.electricchoice.com/average-electric-bills/ https://www.electricchoice.com/average-electric-bills/ I agree with your take on tradeoffs when it comes to DCs that are built with tax abatements, which are a terrible deal for consumers. Those that are not receiving tax benefits will make up for short-term energy prices with long-term property tax benefits, that will eventually pay back the grid upgrades and fund even more upgrades in the future.
- square_usual 3mo ago
  > It's pretty well documented that datacenters (esp the AI variety) are offloading grid expenses to customers as higher baseline costs. I'm sure you can present this documentation, then.
  - runtime_terror 3mo ago
    Here you go: Harvard University Law Press: https://eelp.law.harvard.edu/extracting-profits-from-the-public-how-utility-ratepayers-are-paying-for-big-techs-power/ https://eelp.law.harvard.edu/extracting-profits-from-the-pub... Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-ai-data-centers-electricity-prices/ https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-ai-data-centers-elec... CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/13/ai-data-centers-electricity-prices-backlash-ratepayer-protection.html https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/13/ai-data-centers-electricity-... There are many more if you care to look

Not sure how to answer this. It's pretty well documented that datacenters (esp the AI variety) are offloading grid expenses to customers as higher baseline costs. The issue is that these DCs are not paying for the cost of the necessary grid upgrades but are instead having the power cos pass these costs off to all consumers as base increases.

fintechjock 3mo ago
Found something. Not very exact data, but Virginia has the highest concentration of data centers per capita, but average electric bills: https://www.electricchoice.com/average-electric-bills/ https://www.electricchoice.com/average-electric-bills/ I agree with your take on tradeoffs when it comes to DCs that are built with tax abatements, which are a terrible deal for consumers. Those that are not receiving tax benefits will make up for short-term energy prices with long-term property tax benefits, that will eventually pay back the grid upgrades and fund even more upgrades in the future.
square_usual 3mo ago
> It's pretty well documented that datacenters (esp the AI variety) are offloading grid expenses to customers as higher baseline costs. I'm sure you can present this documentation, then.
- runtime_terror 3mo ago
  Here you go: Harvard University Law Press: https://eelp.law.harvard.edu/extracting-profits-from-the-public-how-utility-ratepayers-are-paying-for-big-techs-power/ https://eelp.law.harvard.edu/extracting-profits-from-the-pub... Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-ai-data-centers-electricity-prices/ https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-ai-data-centers-elec... CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/13/ai-data-centers-electricity-prices-backlash-ratepayer-protection.html https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/13/ai-data-centers-electricity-... There are many more if you care to look