The AI Power Surge: How Will It Impact Utility Bills?

With AI data centers now the primary engine of the economy, responsible for over 90% of U.S. GDP growth in early 2025, states are in a high-stakes race to secure "AI hyperscaler" investments.

This AI Era is intensifying the "battle for watts," including across markets already hamstrung by long permitting backlogs for new generation and transmission projects.

AI Power Requirements In Perspective:

• 2025: Data centers accounted for ~6% of total U.S. electricity consumption.

• 2030: Projections now suggest they will reach ~11-12% of the national load.

  
  

This surge creates a new pricing dynamic. With "deep-pocketed" tech giants bidding for finite electricity resources, we can expect sustained upward pressure on both delivery and supply charges.

The sheer scale of required utility investment means these costs will likely be socialized across all ratepayers, making "price at the meter" a major economic hurdle for the rest of the decade.