Big Take AI Data Centers Use a Lot of Energy. You May Be Paying for It
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Sep 30, 2025 Join Bloomberg reporter Josh Saul, who delves into the shocking impact of data centers on our energy bills. He reveals how the explosive demand for AI is raising wholesale electricity prices, which are passed on to consumers. Hear about Baltimore resident Kevin Stanley’s struggle with skyrocketing costs and learn why local communities are worried. Discover insights on how utilities are navigating these challenges and the growing predictions for data center energy consumption reaching 4% of global demand by 2035. It’s a high-stakes conversation about technology and its costs!
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Resident Shares Bill Pain
- Kevin Stanley, a 57-year-old Baltimore resident on disability, reports his electricity bills rose ~80% over three years.
- He cut groceries and delayed diabetes medication to afford higher bills.
Data Centers Consume Country-Scale Power
- Global data center electricity demand rivals entire countries and keeps growing rapidly.
- Bloomberg BNEF projects data centers could use over 4% of global electricity by 2035.
Price Spikes Cluster Near Data Hubs
- Bloomberg linked wholesale price rises to proximity to concentrated data center activity using GridStatus and DCByte data.
- About 70% of nodes recording price increases sat within 50 miles of major data center activity.