Your Electric Bill in Illinois Just Got Higher, And It’s Not Your Fault

If your electric bill has jumped lately, you're not imagining things. And no, it’s not just because your kids leave every light in the house on, or that your AC is running nonstop. The real reason? Big Tech is growing rather hungry for power.

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Across Illinois and much of the Midwest, electricity prices are spiking, and the culprit is hiding in plain sight: AI data centers. In fact, according to a recent report from Business Insider, next year prices could increase more. These massive warehouses of servers, some using more power than small towns, are fueling a surge in energy demand that’s now hitting everyday consumers in the wallet.

Illinois is part of the PJM Interconnection, the largest power grid operator in the U.S., serving 67 million people across 13 states. In the compnay's most recent auction, which sets next year’s electricity rates, PJM reported wholesale capacity prices jumped by 22% from 2024. That could mean your monthly electric bill goes up by as much as 5% next year.

So what’s causing the spike? Supporting generative AI and cloud computing. These processes require enormous amounts of electricity to run and cool servers around the clock. Get this: data centers use up to 70 megawatts of power each. That's enough to power 50,000 homes. These servers seem to be multiplying fast, especially in places like Columbus, Ohio, and Virginia, which now has the largest concentration of data centers in the world.

The Bank of America Institute says electricity demand in the U.S. is now expected to rise 2.5% annually through 2035, mostly because of these high-tech facilities.

And while Big Tech builds and profits, residential customers like you are footing more of the bill. Bottom line? Your rising electric bill isn't a fluke. It’s a signal of how the digital age is reshaping our power grid and your wallet. And unless something changes, it won't be just Illinois residents who will keep paying more to power the internet's back end.