There's no good reason why any ordinary electricity users should have to deal with massive rate increases because of nearby Big Tech data centers. Tell Big Tech to pay their own way or get the hell out of town!
Discussion
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Discussion
@lauren
I'm always confused by this. I had assumed everyone paid for the electricity which they used. I don't know why someone else's power demands would increase someone else's bill.
@lonelystone Because only a portion of the amount paid is actual electricity usage. The other part is to pay for the infrastructure needed to provide electricity to all customers of the utility, including generators, distribution networks, and all the rest. Data centers make massive demand for new infrastructure and cut deals so that they don't pay their fair share -- so everyone else has to pick up the tab.
@lauren At some point data center demand (and electric cars) will require more generation. That will hike rates. But data center load can be throttled when retail demand is high. That will reduce the amount of added generation needed.
@tdietterich The most likely scenario is:
1) Big Tech makes sweetheart deals with utilities for their AI slop data centers for power and associated infrastructure -- other local consumers of power get settled with even more increases
2) Bit Tech AI slop doesn't make money, Big Tech pulls back leaving that infrastructure behind.
3) Other local consumers get hit with even more rate increases to cover the utility losses due to Big Tech pulling out.
-- IT'S ALL A SCAM, KIDS! ---
@lauren The situation is not so simple. Most of the current price increases are due to replacing and hardening (for climate change) infrastructure. Big customers actually lower consumer costs because these capital costs are spread over all customers.
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