ComEd customers could pay billions for data center hookups, warns utility watchdog group
ComEd expects to spend about $3.1 billion connecting new data centers to its Illinois grid, prompting the Citizens Utility Board to warn that residential customers could bear some of the cost. ComEd says existing and proposed protections require large-load customers to cover their own infrastructure expenses, while advocates are urging passage of the Illinois POWER Act.
ComEd estimates that connecting planned and operating data centers will require roughly $3.1 billion in transmission and distribution investments over the next several years. The Citizens Utility Board said data center deposits, totaling about $720.9 million for distribution-related costs, may not cover the full expense and warned that ComEd’s more than 4 million customers could face higher bills. CUB Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz argued that large technology companies have not paid their fair share.
ComEd disputed that assessment, saying about $1.6 billion of the projected cost is transmission spending regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and that approved Transmission Security Agreements require large-load customers to cover their costs. The utility also has a proposal before the Illinois Commerce Commission to require larger deposits. Environmental and consumer advocates support the Illinois POWER Act, which would require data centers to pay 100% of the energy and infrastructure costs they cause and impose environmental, water and energy requirements, but the Illinois General Assembly did not consider the bill during its spring session.