Tech Giants Are ‘Gobbling Up’ Grid Capacity, Consumers Are Getting the Bill

WASHINGTON, May 27, 2026 – Ratepayers, not technology companies, are bearing the cost of energy infrastructure built to power data centers, Democratic lawmakers and policy officials warned Wednesday.

The call came during a press call examining rising utility costs, with West Virginia emerging as a focal point for a national debate over who should pay when large technology users strain the grid.

Kayla Young, a West Virginia state delegate, said large technology companies have shown no interest in contributing their share. "The hyperscalers aren't even interested in paying their fair share, and we are not taking advantage of that in any capacity," she said.