The US is facing increased electricity costs due to data centers and extreme temperatures. Between May 2024 and May 2025, the average residential electricity price rose by 6.5%. This increase is attributed to high demand for power from data centers, which are projected to consume up to 12% of U.S. electricity within the next three years.
According to a recent report, residents in several states are paying more for electricity, including New Jersey and Ohio, where prices rose by 20% and 10-15%, respectively. Hawaii’s residents pay the highest electricity rates at 41.03 cents per kWh, while Idaho has the lowest rates at 11.88 cents per kWh.
The extreme weather conditions in some areas led to a national record for electricity consumption on July 28, with Americans consuming 758,149 megawatt-hours of power between 7-8 p.m. ET. The increase in residential electricity bills can be attributed to various factors, including infrastructure costs, fuel prices, and the balance of supply and demand.
Data centers are driving up electricity costs for some consumers in several states, particularly those serviced by PJM Interconnection. As artificial intelligence usage surges, power-hungry data centers are expanding rapidly, leading to increased energy demand and higher electricity bills.
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/08/04/electricity-prices-risen-why-states-map/85511712007