Big Tech to Pay for Its Own Power, Not You

What Happened

A new ‘ratepayer protection pledge’ with Big Tech was announced during the State of the Union address, requiring them to build or purchase their own electricity supplies to power A.I. data centers.

Rather than drawing from the existing electrical grid in ways that could drive up costs for everyday consumers, tech companies will be obligated to meet their own energy needs, including through on-site power generation.

The formal signing event is expected to take place at the White House next week, with companies confirmed or expected to participate, including some of the biggest names in the technology industry: OpenAI, Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, xAI, and Oracle.

Microsoft President Brad Smith issued a statement Wednesday calling the pledge ‘an important step’ and affirming that the company appreciates the administration’s effort to ensure data centers do not contribute to higher electricity prices for consumers. Amazon confirmed participation through a company spokesman, and OpenAI’s involvement was confirmed by a source familiar with the initiative.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright told reporters the event would result in a ‘unified announcement’ on cooperation among the companies involved, adding that no developer had pushed back or refused to participate when presented with the objectives.

Why It Matters

The rapid expansion of A.I. has created an enormous and growing appetite for electricity. Data centers, the massive facilities that power A.I. systems and cloud computing, consume staggering amounts of energy, and that demand is accelerating.

This drastic demand puts pressure on electricity rates for everyone else. Households and small businesses end up subsidizing the infrastructure costs of giant corporations through their monthly utility bills.

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By requiring these companies to generate or procure their own power rather than leaning on shared grid resources, the initiative aims to cut a line between the energy costs of the A.I. buildout and the bills of working families.

While the pledge largely formalizes what many of these companies were already doing, making those commitments public and coordinated at the White House level raises the standard for any company that might otherwise have dragged its feet. It also gives consumers a clearer basis for holding these corporations accountable.

How It Affects You

Electricity bills have been rising for years, and A.I. data centers are among the fastest-growing new sources of grid demand. As these facilities scale up to support the next generation of artificial intelligence, the energy they consume runs through the same infrastructure that powers homes, small businesses, and entire communities across the country.

Major tech companies have been racing to build out data center capacity at a pace that is straining regional grids in several parts of the country, and that pressure does not stay neatly contained to the corporations driving it. Without any clear boundaries, it works its way into utility rates that regular citizens have little control over and often no visibility into until the bill arrives.

By committing to build or buy their own power supplies, major tech companies are assuming the financial burden of powering their operations rather than relying on the shared grid, which was never designed to absorb demand at this scale.

For households and small businesses, the direct implication is that the A.I. buildout, which is ultimately a profit-driven enterprise for some of the wealthiest corporations in the world, should not quietly offload its infrastructure costs onto the people least equipped to absorb them.

As long as the commitments are properly structured and the companies in question follow through with their pledge, the explosive growth of A.I. has less reason to show up as a line item on your monthly utility bill. While it’s far from a guaranteed outcome, it is a meaningful step toward one.

*Disclaimer: Energy Exploration Technologies, Inc. (“EnergyX”) has engaged Shortlysts to publish this communication in connection with EnergyX’s ongoing Regulation A offering. Shortlysts has been paid in cash and may receive additional compensation. Shortlysts and/or its affiliates do not currently hold securities of EnergyX. This compensation and any current or future ownership interest could create a conflict of interest. Please consider this disclosure alongside EnergyX’s offering materials. EnergyX’s Regulation A offering has been qualified by the SEC. Offers and sales may be made only by means of the qualified offering circular. Before investing, carefully review the offering circular, including the risk factors. The offering circular is available at invest.energyx.com/.