Analysis: AI data centers have pushed U.S. electricity prices up by $23 billion, and the costs are likely to continue being borne by residents.

According to a study cited by Fortune, the rapid expansion of AI data centers in the United States has driven a sharp rise in public power costs. PJM Market Monitor, the entity overseeing power grids across 14 U.S. Mid-Atlantic and Midwest states, projects that the additional power demand from data centers will lead to power users bearing roughly $230 billion in extra costs, an impact that will persist through at least the end of 2028. The report notes that while multiple major tech companies have committed to covering the costs of new power infrastructure, since public utility expenses such as transmission lines, substations and grid upgrades are typically shared uniformly by regulators, some costs may still be passed on to residential and general commercial users. The study also points out that some data centers can reduce their power usage during grid peak periods by flexibly adjusting their load, thereby cutting their share of grid costs allocated based on peak load. However, they still consume large volumes of electricity, meaning their actual cost burden may be lower than the strain they exert on the grid. Analysts believe that as AI infrastructure construction continues to accelerate, issues such as power cost allocation mechanisms, data center power pricing and rising residential electricity rates are emerging as key challenges facing U.S. energy regulators.