Scott Colom Says Mississippi Data Centers Raise Power Bills; Entergy Disputes Claim
U.S. Senate candidate Scott Colom says Mississippi data center development is raising household electricity costs and has called for a pause on construction. Entergy Mississippi disputes that claim, saying data center customers fully fund their infrastructure needs and that their growth is helping keep residential rates lower than they otherwise would be.
Mississippi Senate candidate Scott Colom is criticizing the state’s data center expansion, claiming a so-called data center bailout is adding about $10.60 a month to the average Entergy household’s power bill. He has called for a pause on data center construction, arguing that projects could increase pressure on the power grid, water supplies and local infrastructure.
Entergy Mississippi rejected Colom’s assertions. The utility said its Fair Share Plus pledge requires data center customers to pay for their infrastructure needs and provide additional benefits to other customers. Entergy also pointed to a Mississippi Public Service Commission-approved rate plan that avoided a projected monthly increase and said residential rates are expected to be lower by 2030 because of data center-related growth.