Advocates Say Ratepayer Protection Act Misses 267% Power-Cost Surge as AI Datacenters Expand
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 5
Advocates Say Ratepayer Protection Act Misses 267% Power-Cost Surge as AI Datacenters Expand
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 5
Summary
Consumer groups say the bipartisan bill would do little to curb electricity-price increases from AI datacenters because its ratepayer safeguards are voluntary and can be ignored by state utility commissions.
The same package would speed datacenter growth by easing grid connections, reducing some NEPA reviews and creating loopholes for companies to claim they cover their own power costs, critics say.
About 200 new datacenters have opened in three years, and advocates link that buildout to wholesale power-price increases of up to 6% on average and 50% in some areas, with consumer bills up as much as 267% in datacenter-heavy regions.
Opponents including Food and Water Watch and the Center for Biological Diversity say the bill ignores broader public costs such as water use, pollution and infrastructure strain, and argue Congress should consider slowing new AI datacenter projects instead.
The measure, backed by some in big tech including Microsoft, cleared a House subcommittee in mid-June, but a full committee vote set for July 1 was delayed.