Ossoff says he's launching inquiry into AI data center impacts on power bills in Georgia

Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff announced a formal inquiry into the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) concerning the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers on state electricity bills. Senator Ossoff expressed concern that increasing data center development could lead to higher power costs for Georgia families, urging FERC to ensure that technology companies "pay their own way" for energy usage and infrastructure. The inquiry comes after the Georgia Public Service Commission, the state's utility regulator, approved a rule last year allowing utilities like Georgia Power to bill customers consuming over 100 megawatts of energy under different, potentially higher, terms. Ossoff highlighted that much of the new energy generation approved by the PSC is intended to serve large new customers, including data centers, and stressed the importance of safeguards to prevent these costs from being passed to residents already facing "sky-high power bills." He is seeking assurances from FERC regarding the credibility and enforceability of tech companies' commitments to cover their own energy costs.