AI’s invisible footprint: What rising demand for data centers could mean for your utility bills

Experts are raising concerns about the significant water and power demands of AI companies and their data centers, predicting that North Carolina residents could see increased utility bills within three to four years due to a concept called "cost socialization." Jackson Ewing, a professor at Duke University, explained that utility companies like Duke Energy might pass along the overall costs of providing power to data centers to all users. The impact on electric bills is expected to be widespread, meaning residents in cities like Raleigh could experience higher energy costs even if data centers are located elsewhere, such as Stokes County. Conversely, water impacts are typically localized, with effects depending on the specific municipal resources and potentially rising "relatively quickly" in areas where water is scarce. Ewing emphasized the urgent need for lawmakers to regulate these companies to prevent adverse financial effects on individuals and environmental damage.