Grid Infrastructure Cost Allocation

Cornell researchers analyzed energy demand growth and infrastructure projects across four major U.S. power grids from 2020 to 2025, finding that data centers drove up wholesale prices while covering only 38% of the infrastructure costs tied to their growth ($3.12 billion of an $8.25 billion bill in 2025). The remaining 62% fell largely on residents, with the lowest-income households facing extra energy costs up to 28% of their incomes. Published in Nature Energy, the study provides evidence for state and congressional debates over cost allocation.