Artificial intelligence is changing the way we live and work, but it’s also having a significant impact on our utility bills. Lawmakers in Washington are debating whether technology companies should pay for the enormous strain AI is placing on the nation’s power grid.

The Issue

Most of us think of AI as software, but behind the scenes, massive data centers are working around the clock, using an incredible amount of electricity. Some of the newest AI data centers being built could eventually require as much electricity as two million homes. This growing demand is forcing utility companies to build more infrastructure, including substations, transmission lines, and additional power generation facilities.

Consumer advocates worry that some of these costs could eventually show up on residential electric bills. Their argument is simple: families shouldn’t have to subsidize some of the world’s wealthiest technology companies. The technology industry counters that data centers also bring economic benefits, creating jobs, generating tax revenue, and improving local infrastructure in the communities where they’re built.

The Solution

Congress is now debating legislation called the Ratepayer Protection Act, which would require utilities to create rules that shift the cost of power grid upgrades to large energy users, including many AI data centers, instead of passing those costs on to residential customers.

The growth of AI is happening rapidly, with the United States already having thousands of data centers in operation, and major expansions underway in states including Virginia, Georgia, Arizona, Ohio, and Texas. Experts estimate that data centers now account for roughly 4.5 percent of all electricity consumed in America, and that number could double within a few years.

Electricity isn’t the only concern; these facilities also require enormous amounts of water to keep thousands of computer chips cool. Some large data centers can use millions of gallons of water every day.

Original reporting: Alabama News Network — read the source article.