Data centers to be surveyed for power use

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is set to launch a mandatory survey on electricity consumption by data centers across the U.S., including specific facilities in Oklahoma. This action stems from increasing nationwide concerns that the significant power demands of data centers could lead to higher utility bills for consumers. The survey will require operators, such as Google's data center in Pryor and other facilities in Oklahoma City, to report their electrical power usage. The initiative follows inquiries from U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Josh Hawley, who had previously pressed the EIA on the issue. Senator Warren emphasized the public's right to understand data centers' energy impact on utility costs, urging the EIA to expedite data collection and sharing. Prior to this, EIA head Tristan Abbey had indicated a pilot survey for areas with high data center development, including Texas, Washington state, and the Northern Virginia/DC metro area. The survey will gather comprehensive information, encompassing annual electricity use and details on behind-the-meter power generation. This latter aspect gained relevance in Oklahoma after Governor Kevin Stitt signed a law approving such processes last year, prompting some data center developers to explore constructing gas-powered generation facilities for their projects.