Editorial Calls for AI Companies to Pay Data Center Infrastructure Costs
The editorial argues that AI companies and data center developers should pay the full infrastructure costs associated with their electricity and water use. It cites a federal complaint by Maryland’s Office of People’s Counsel alleging that Maryland customers could be charged billions for transmission infrastructure driven by data center demand.
The Baltimore Jewish Times editorial calls for data center developers and AI companies to bear the incremental costs of new generation, transmission, substations, water infrastructure and other facilities required to serve their operations. It argues that existing customers should not be exposed to speculative investments or costs that primarily benefit large technology companies.
The editorial cites a federal complaint filed by Maryland’s Office of People’s Counsel, which alleges that regional transmission rules could assign Maryland ratepayers responsibility for $2 billion in infrastructure expenditures linked to data center demand. It supports transparent accounting and enforceable utility rules while noting that major technology companies and some states and utilities have endorsed measures intended to protect existing customers.