The cost of keeping America’s lights on is rising, and one technology is fueling those higher bills: artificial intelligence. According to PJM Interconnection, the nation’s largest grid operator, AI-driven demand from data centers is spiking energy consumption this summer. These facilities, powering popular tools like ChatGPT, draw up to 30 times more electricity than their traditional counterparts. The surge is straining an aging power infrastructure, with the added pressure amplified as coal plants retire and the rollout of clean energy lags amid regulatory hurdles and vanishing government incentives. This summer alone, customers in multiple states are bracing for jumps of up to 20% in their electric bills, while commercial users face even steeper increases. With the widening gap between soaring demand and sluggish supply, power reliability is also a concern, and experts warn that without grid modernization and policy overhauls, the financial pain could persist.
How AI Usage is Driving Up Summer Electricity Costs
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