'The storm is here': Why you and your neighbors may be paying multibillion-dollar bill for AI data centers right now — but that may not last long as more US states join revolt against unjust 'socialist' approach to electricity bills

Our exclusive interview with Florida State University professor Dr Mark McNees

by · TechRadar

Features By Desire Athow Contributions from Wayne Williams published 29 April 2026

(Image credit: Generated with Google Gemini)

Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter

Your electricity bill may soon carry hidden costs tied to a technology boom you never asked for — and in some states, utilities are already spending billions to support it.

Across the United States, the rapid expansion of AI data centers is forcing major grid upgrades at a pace rarely seen before.

These hyperscale facilities, built to train and run artificial intelligence models, can consume as much electricity as entire towns, but in many cases, the cost of building the new infrastructure needed to support them is not being paid by the companies driving the demand. Instead, it is spread across residential customers through higher rates.

Article continues below

That practice is now under growing scrutiny from lawmakers, regulators, and grid operators who warn that households are being asked to subsidize private infrastructure.

Not shifting costs onto other customers

On April 24, regulators in Wisconsin issued a ruling requiring data centers to cover the full cost of the power infrastructure they require, explicitly stating that utilities “must not shift those costs onto other customers.”

The decision, issued by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, marked a shift from policy debate to enforceable regulation built around the beneficiary-pays principle.

Similar legislation has already passed in states including Florida and Pennsylvania during the current session, suggesting the approach is spreading quickly as more states move to prevent residential customers from absorbing the cost of private infrastructure.

Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors