Tool
Will data centers raise my electric bill?
Find your utility to see the data center projects it serves, its large-load tariff and what regulators and researchers have said about bills. Sources disagree, so both sides are shown.
Choose a utility to see its tracked data center projects, tariff and sourced statements about bills.
What we know about data centers and power bills
The strongest sourced findings we have found, grouped by what they conclude. They use different methods, places and years, so they do not cancel out or add up. Click an excerpt to read the source’s own words.
Sources warning that other customers’ costs could rise
- Berkeley Lab / Brattle Group (2026 data update): The 2026 update presents PJM's capacity auctions as a case where load growth, including data centers, combined with supply and delivery constraints coincided with significant price increases. (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and The Brattle Group, 2026-04)
Source excerpt
“Accelerated load growth combined with supply and delivery constraints leads to significant price increases”
- Harvard Electricity Law Initiative (Martin and Peskoe): The Harvard authors argue that confidential utility-data center contracts may shift Big Tech's power costs onto other ratepayers. (Harvard Electricity Law Initiative, 2025-03-05)
Source excerpt
“the paper uncovers how utilities are forcing ratepayers to fund discounted rates for data centers.”
- PJM Independent Market Monitor (Monitoring Analytics): The market monitor for PJM's grid says growing data center demand is the main driver behind recent and expected conditions in the region's capacity market. (Utility Dive, 2026-01-07)
Source excerpt
“Data center load growth is the primary reason for recent and expected capacity market conditions.”
- PJM Independent Market Monitor (Monitoring Analytics): A March 2026 market monitor report estimated that forecast data center load added $23.1 billion in costs across recent PJM capacity auctions, as reported by Utility Dive. (Utility Dive, 2026-03-13)
Source excerpt
“Forecast data center load caused $23.1 billion in market costs”
- PJM Interconnection: PJM reported that nearly all of the increase in its 2027/2028 peak load forecast was attributable to data centers; it also noted capacity is only part of wholesale costs, which are part of retail bills. (PJM Interconnection, 2025-12-17)
Source excerpt
“Nearly 5,100 MW of that increase is attributable to data center demand.”
- Virginia JLARC: The Virginia legislative audit commission found that increased data center energy demand will likely raise system costs for all customers. (Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC), 2024-12)
Source excerpt
“increased energy demand will likely increase system costs for all customers.”
- Carnegie Mellon University / NC State researchers: University researchers modeled that data center and crypto-mining growth through 2030 could raise average U.S. generation costs by 8%; the figure is a model projection of generation costs, not a bill forecast. (Carnegie Mellon University, 2025-08)
Source excerpt
“data center and cryptocurrency mining growth through 2030 could increase average U.S. electricity generation costs by 8%”
- Wood Mackenzie: Wood Mackenzie analysts argue that large-load tariffs' minimum terms are shorter than the 20-30 year recovery period of the infrastructure, leaving a potential cost gap. (Wood Mackenzie, 2025-06-05)
Source excerpt
“Their minimum contract terms are far shorter than the recovery period of generation and transmission infrastructure”
- Earthjustice: Earthjustice's review of large-load contracts warns that if forecast new load does not materialize, other ratepayers could bear the cost. (Earthjustice, 2025-02-04)
Source excerpt
“This is especially important where forecasted new load may not materialize, leaving other ratepayers to foot the bill.”
Sources saying customers are protected, or bills are lower than they would be
- E3 (white paper prepared for Amazon): E3, in a study released for Amazon, found the Amazon data centers it evaluated were not subsidized by other customers at the facility level; the sample is limited to case studies in four utility territories. (Energy and Environmental Economics (E3), 2025-12-16)
Source excerpt
“the Amazon data centers evaluated are not being subsidized by other customers on an individual facility level”
- Virginia JLARC: The same commission concluded that current Virginia rates allocate costs to the customers responsible, including data centers. (Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC), 2024-12)
Source excerpt
“current rates appropriately allocate costs to the customers responsible for incurring them, including data center customers.”
- North Carolina Public Staff (consumer advocate): The NC Public Staff proposed a data center tariff with minimum bills and exit fees, saying large customers should not leave the remaining customer base with the bill. (WUNC / WFAE, 2026-06-08)
Source excerpt
“cannot simply walk away from the system and leave the remaining customer base with the bill.”
Sources finding both, or saying it depends
- Berkeley Lab / Brattle Group: Berkeley Lab and Brattle report that, in recent years, states with load growth have tended to see lower retail prices, while cautioning the pattern may not continue. (The Brattle Group, 2025-10-17)
Source excerpt
“Load growth has tended to depress retail electricity prices in recent years”
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: EIA said residential prices have risen in all regions and it expects that to continue; coverage ties the demand growth to the commercial sector, which includes data centers. (Utility Dive, 2026-05-15)
Source excerpt
“Residential prices have been growing in all regions of the United States, and we expect this trend to continue”
Utilities serving tracked data centers
42 utilities serve the 71 tracked projects that name one, with 63.4 GW of planned capacity between them. 16 have a large-load tariff approved or proposed in the sources we reviewed.
| Utility | States | Tracked projects | Planned capacity | Large-load tariff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Public Service (SPS) Xcel Energy | TX | 1 | 17 GW | Not yet reviewed |
| AEP Ohio American Electric Power | OH | 1 | 10 GW | Large-load tariff or rules approved |
| ComEd Exelon | IL | 5 | 5.93 GW | Large-load tariff or rules approved |
| Entergy Louisiana Entergy | LA | 2 | 5.33 GW | Large-load tariff or rules approved |
| Georgia Power Southern Company | GA | 2 | 3.46 GW | Large-load tariff or rules approved |
| Duke Energy | FL, NC, OH | 7 | 2.85 GW + 2 with no single capacity figure | Large-load tariff or rules proposed |
| Appalachian Power American Electric Power | VA, WV | 2 | 2.46 GW | Large-load tariff or rules approved |
| DTE Electric DTE Energy | MI | 5 | 2.38 GW + 2 with no single capacity figure | Large-load tariff or rules approved |
| Dominion Energy Virginia Dominion Energy | VA | 2 | 1.89 GW | Large-load tariff or rules approved |
| Rappahannock Electric Cooperative | VA | 2 | 1.49 GW | Not yet reviewed |
| We Energies WEC Energy Group | WI | 2 | 1.3 GW + 1 with no single capacity figure | Large-load tariff or rules approved |
| Alliant Energy | IA, WI | 3 | 1.27 GW | No large-load tariff found |
| Alabama Power Southern Company | AL | 1 | 1.2 GW | Large-load tariff or rules approved |
| Ameren Illinois Ameren | IL | 2 | 1.13 GW | Not yet reviewed |
| El Paso Electric Infrastructure Investments Fund | TX | 1 | 1 GW | Not yet reviewed |
| Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association | CO | 1 | 1 GW | Not yet reviewed |
| Rural Electric Convenience Cooperative | IL | 1 | 634 MW | Not yet reviewed |
| Ameren Missouri Ameren | MO | 3 | 600 MW + 2 with no single capacity figure | Large-load tariff or rules approved |
| NV Energy Berkshire Hathaway Energy | NV | 1 | 362 MW | Not yet reviewed |
| Oncor Sempra | TX | 2 | 360 MW | Not yet reviewed |
| National Grid (New York) National Grid | NY | 1 | 300 MW | Not yet reviewed |
| Tucson Electric Power Fortis | AZ | 1 | 286 MW | Not yet reviewed |
| Denton Municipal Electric | TX | 1 | 260 MW | Not yet reviewed |
| Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) | TN | 1 | 250 MW | Not yet reviewed |
| Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) | TN | 1 | 250 MW | Not yet reviewed |
| Arizona Public Service (APS) Pinnacle West | AZ | 1 | 212 MW | Not yet reviewed |
| Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) | NY | 1 | 176.6 MW | Not yet reviewed |
| AES Ohio AES Corporation | OH | 3 | — + 3 with no single capacity figure | Large-load tariff or rules proposed |
| Entergy Arkansas Entergy | AR | 2 | — + 2 with no single capacity figure | Not yet reviewed |
| Indiana Michigan Power American Electric Power | IN | 2 | — + 2 with no single capacity figure | Large-load tariff or rules approved |
| PPL Electric Utilities PPL Corporation | PA | 2 | — + 2 with no single capacity figure | Large-load tariff or rules approved |
| Xcel Energy (Minnesota) Xcel Energy | MN | 2 | — + 1 with no single capacity figure | Large-load tariff or rules approved |
| AES Indiana AES Corporation | IN | 1 | — + 1 with no single capacity figure | Not yet reviewed |
| Cheyenne Light, Fuel & Power Black Hills Corporation | WY | 1 | — + 1 with no single capacity figure | Not yet reviewed |
| Consumers Energy CMS Energy | MI | 1 | — + 1 with no single capacity figure | Large-load tariff or rules approved |
| Entergy Mississippi Entergy | MS | 1 | — + 1 with no single capacity figure | Not yet reviewed |
| Evergy | MO | 1 | — + 1 with no single capacity figure | Not yet reviewed |
| FirstEnergy (Pennsylvania) FirstEnergy | PA | 1 | — + 1 with no single capacity figure | Not yet reviewed |
| Lansing Board of Water & Light | MI | 1 | — | Not yet reviewed |
| Minnesota Power ALLETE | MN | 1 | — + 1 with no single capacity figure | Not yet reviewed |
| Montana-Dakota Utilities MDU Resources | ND | 1 | — + 1 with no single capacity figure | Not yet reviewed |
| PECO Exelon | PA | 1 | — | Not yet reviewed |
Capacity adds the first published capacity of each proposed, approved, under-construction and operating project. A project served by two listed utilities counts in full for each. Figures given as ranges or words are not added.
Who pays, and what a large-load tariff is
Who pays for new power lines and plants
PJM's fact sheet says regional transmission project costs go to beneficiaries and local project costs to the zone where the project sits. (PJM Interconnection)
Source excerpt
“costs associated with regional projects – those planned by PJM – are allocated to the beneficiaries of the project, with their share roughly commensurate with their benefit.”
K&L Gates summarizes the DOE-directed FERC large-load interconnection proposal (Docket RM26-4), under which large loads would be responsible for network upgrade costs identified in studies. (K&L Gates)
Source excerpt
“responsible for the full cost of all network upgrades identified during the study process”
What a large-load tariff is
ScottMadden describes minimum demand charges as one common provision of large-load tariffs. (ScottMadden)
Source excerpt
“Requiring customers to pay for a percentage of their contract capacity, even if actual usage is lower”
Fresh Energy reports the Minnesota commission approved an Xcel large-load tariff with a minimum contract length and early-exit charge. (Fresh Energy)
Source excerpt
“Key elements of the approval include a 15-year minimum contract length between large facilities and the utility, as well as an 80% demand charge fee if a large facility exits the contract early.”
How to follow a rate case
South Carolina's Office of Regulatory Staff lists ways the public can take part in a utility rate case; other state commissions offer similar routes. (South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff)
Source excerpt
“You can express your opinion to the PSC in writing.”
Data centers and electric bills: common questions
Do data centers raise electric bills?
Sources disagree, and the answer depends on the utility, the market and the rules. Some findings warn of higher costs for other customers: Berkeley Lab / Brattle Group (2026 data update) the 2026 update presents PJM's capacity auctions as a case where load growth, including data centers, combined with supply and delivery constraints coincided with significant price increases. Others find customers are protected or better off: E3 (white paper prepared for Amazon) e3, in a study released for Amazon, found the Amazon data centers it evaluated were not subsidized by other customers at the facility level; the sample is limited to case studies in four utility territories. This page lists both, with the source for each, and does not predict any household’s bill.
Who pays for new power lines and power plants for data centers?
PJM's fact sheet says regional transmission project costs go to beneficiaries and local project costs to the zone where the project sits. Regulators decide how costs are split between large customers and everyone else, utility by utility, and some use special tariffs for the largest customers.
What is a large-load tariff?
ScottMadden describes minimum demand charges as one common provision of large-load tariffs. 14 of the 42 utilities serving tracked projects have one approved in the sources we reviewed.
How do I follow my utility’s rate case?
South Carolina's Office of Regulatory Staff lists ways the public can take part in a utility rate case; other state commissions offer similar routes. Use the tool above to find your utility, then its page for the docket numbers and regulator links we have found.
This page reports what sources say. It does not estimate any household’s bill: what you pay depends on your utility’s rates, your usage, the wholesale market and decisions by your regulator.
Related: Power & generation tracker · Tax breaks tracker · How much electricity data centers use · Data center pros and cons · Impact calculator
Cite this page
Last updated Oct 13, 2026. Figures may change as records are updated — include the date you retrieved them.
| APA | Data Center Census. (2026). Data centers and electric bills. Retrieved from https://datacentercensus.com/electric-bills |
|---|---|
| MLA | “Data centers and electric bills.” Data Center Census, Oct 13, 2026, https://datacentercensus.com/electric-bills. |
| Link | https://datacentercensus.com/electric-bills |
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