Data centers pay only 38% of their grid costs, sticking rural and low-income households with the bill

Data centers need power – lower income, rural residents pay the price

Cornell researchers analyzed four major U.S. power grids from 2020 to 2025 and found that data centers covered just 38% of the $8.25 billion in infrastructure costs tied to their growth, leaving $5.13 billion to residents. In the hardest-hit hubs, wholesale prices rose up to 20%, and the share of rural families facing a high energy burden climbed 76% faster than among urban residents. The study recommends shifting peak demand, charging data centers directly, and targeting relief to low-income households.