Data centers were actually making electricity costs cheaper, but the $7 trillion buildout with no guaranteed AI demand is threatening the trend

A study by the Electric Power Research Institute found that data centers reduced retail electricity prices by 3.5% per doubling of capacity until 2024, but a $7 trillion AI infrastructure buildout may reverse this trend, with Virginia already seeing a 13% rise in residential electricity costs. Goldman Sachs and PJM warn of future price increases linked to data center demand.