75. How Could Data Center Growth Affect Future Electricity Costs?

This week on the EPRI Current, we explore one of the energy sector’s most recently debated questions: Are data centers driving up electricity rates? Host Samantha Gilman is joined by Geoff Blanford and Asa Watten of EPRI’s Energy Systems and Climate Analysis team to discuss new research examining the relationship between data center growth and consumer electricity costs. Drawing on a decade of data, they examine why the relationship between rising demand and rising rates may be more complex than many assume, and why, in some cases, load growth can help improve affordability by spreading grid costs across more customers. The conversation also looks ahead to the future of AI-driven electricity demand, the challenges of building grid infrastructure fast enough to keep pace, and how flexible demand initiatives like EPRI’s DCFlex could help balance reliability, affordability, and growth. Tune in for a data-driven discussion that challenges conventional wisdom and offers fresh insight into one of the industry's most important debates.

Read the full working paper: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2606.19777

Summary and key insights available here: https://restservice.epri.com/publicattachment/98650

Explore related EPRI research:

Win-Win Watts: https://winwin.epri.com/
Energy Wallet: https://energywallet.epri.com/
DCFlex Initiative: https://dcflex.epri.com/

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74. What a “Super El Niño” Could Mean for the Power Sector

A potential “super El Niño” is making headlines, and for the power sector, it comes with real implications. In this episode of The EPRI Current, host Samantha Gilman speaks with EPRI climate scientist...

18 Kesä 20min

73. Defining Flexibility: How Flex MOSAIC™ Creates a Shared Language for the Grid

In this week’s episode of the EPRI Current, Dave Weaver from Exelon, Clift Pompee from Compass Datacenters, and Anuja Ratnayake from EPRI join host Samantha Gilman to discuss how new approaches to fle...

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72. Micro Data Centers and the Evolution of AI Infrastructure

In this episode of the EPRI Current, host Samantha Gilman speaks with EPRI’s Director of Agentic AI and Micro Data Centers, Ben Sooter, about the growing role of distributed inference, also known as m...

20 Touko 25min

71. Beyond the Benchmark: Evaluating AI for Real‑World Use

How should organizations interpret AI benchmarks – and where do they fall short when moving from pilots to real‑world deployment? In this episode of EPRI Current, host Samantha Gilman is joined by...

6 Touko 30min

70. The Power of GETs: Unlocking Hidden Grid Capacity

Grid Enhancing Technologies (GETs) are gaining momentum as a practical way to maximize the efficiency and capacity of existing transmission lines. Designed to improve how the grid is monitored, manage...

22 Huhti 23min

69. How Europe Is Preparing AI for Real‑World Grid Operations

Europe is accelerating the use of artificial intelligence across the energy sector – but how can utilities adopt AI safely, securely, and at scale? In this episode of EPRI Current, host Samantha Gilma...

9 Huhti 25min

Grid Talk Series on the EPRI Current: Grid Growth in the Age of Data Centers and Electrification

In the final episode of the Grid Talk Series on the EPRI Current, Maria Pope, President and CEO of Portland General Electric, joins Marty Rosenberg for a wide‑ranging conversation on how utilities are...

25 Maalis 31min