tech
March 26, 2026
Data centers get ready — the Senate wants to see your power bills
Senators Josh Hawley and Elizabeth Warren want the Energy Information Administration to gather more details about how data centers use power — and how that affects the grid.
TL;DR
- Senators Josh Hawley and Elizabeth Warren are demanding more data on data center energy use from the EIA.
- They want mandatory annual reporting requirements for data centers and other large electricity loads.
- The senators cited concerns about accelerating electricity demand growth and risks to grid planning.
- This action follows a similar legislative push by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to regulate AI data centers.
- Data center energy use has surged, with projections showing a near tripling of demand by 2035.
- The EIA is tasked with collecting and analyzing energy system data.
- The senators requested specific data points, including hourly loads, peak demand, pricing, and grid upgrade information.
- EIA administrator Tristan Abbey acknowledged the agency's role but noted the time required to launch new surveys.
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