Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
AI data centers are popping up all over the country, and they use a ton of energy. You’ve probably also heard that they’re driving up your electricity prices. But the reality is more complicated – and more interesting!
In part 1, we explored how data centers are driving up electricity bills in the Northeast. But that’s not what’s happening everywhere. In some places, data centers are actually keeping electricity prices lower for regular customers, at least so far, by picking up the costs for things like power line maintenance and repairs.
The takeaway from these two very different situations is that power grids are complicated, and big changes like the arrival of data centers can have really unexpected effects that differ across the country. We’ll be watching to see how this continues to shift and impact your power bills, so follow for more.
In our next video we’ll be looking at a real power bill to show how other shocks to the system are contributing to rising electricity costs.
What are you seeing where you live? Let us know in the comments.
Part 1: youtube.com/shorts/tWkygdr6aYQ?si=g24khEKsxA6h8PEC
Check out our full investigation into power bills region-by-region here:
grist.org/energy/power-bills-electricity-prices-state-by-state
AI data centers are popping up all over the country, and they use a ton of energy. You’ve probably also heard that they’re driving up your electricity prices. But the reality is more complicated – and more interesting!
In part 1, we explored how data centers are driving up electricity bills in the Northeast. But that’s not what’s happening everywhere. In some places, data centers are actually keeping electricity prices lower for regular customers, at least so far, by picking up the costs for things like power line maintenance and repairs.
The takeaway from these two very different situations is that power grids are complicated, and big changes like the arrival of data centers can have really unexpected effects that differ across the country. We’ll be watching to see how this continues to shift and impact your power bills, so follow for more.
In our next video we’ll be looking at a real power bill to show how other shocks to the system are contributing to rising electricity costs.
What are you seeing where you live? Let us know in the comments.
Part 1: youtube.com/shorts/tWkygdr6aYQ?si=g24khEKsxA6h8PEC
Check out our full investigation into power bills region-by-region here:
grist.org/energy/power-bills-electricity-prices-state-by-state
