Data centers use more power in the US than in any other country

The U.S. now uses more electricity for data centers than any other country, including China. Last year, American data centers consumed nearly 313 terawatt-hours of power, about 40% of all data center demand worldwide, according to a new report from the Energy Institute. That's more electricity than Australia, Italy, Spain, or the UK generate for their entire economies. The surge is being driven by tech companies racing to build out facilities for artificial intelligence, and demand has grown 59% globally since 2022, the year ChatGPT launched.

This growth isn't slowing down. Some forecasts suggest U.S. data center power demand could nearly triple by 2030, though estimates vary and some planned projects may never get built or could face delays.

For homeowners, this matters because of where that power comes from and who pays for it. Consumer advocates worry that without stronger oversight, the cost of upgrading the grid to handle data center demand could land on ordinary electricity customers, not just tech companies. There's also concern that utilities will turn to natural gas to meet this new demand quickly, which would mean more carbon emissions and air pollution in the areas near new gas plants. As this plays out, it's worth watching how your own utility and state regulators handle the costs and energy sources tied to data center growth, since that could show up in future electric bills or in the mix of power feeding your home.