This is a simplified archive of the page at https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2026/01/15/power-electricity-cost-data-centers/
As electricity prices climb, an unusual disconnect is emerging between what regular people pay — and what data centers pay.
Democracy Dies in Darkness
As electricity prices climb, an unusual disconnect is emerging between what regular people pay — and what data centers pay.
Over the past few years, millions of Americans have seen their electricity bills skyrocket. Since February 2020, electricity prices have increased by an average of 40 percent across the country. In some areas, the rate is even faster — in Washington, D.C., electricity costs increased 93 percent from July 2020 to July 2025.
