Largest US Grid Costs Rose $7.3 Billion Due to Data Centers

The data center boom added $7.3 billion in power-supply costs on the largest US grid, raising bills for nearly a fifth of Americans from the Midwest to the mid-Atlantic.

During the last power auction held by grid operator PJM Interconnection LLC this summer, data-center demand accounted for 45% of total power-supply costs, according to a report Wednesday. PJM’s independent market monitor also found that about two-thirds of the previous auction’s record price tag was due to data centers. Across both auctions, data-center consumption added $16.1 billion in costs.

READ: AI Data Centers Are Sending Consumer Electric Bills Soaring

Soaring prices ...