The White House wants AI companies to cover rate hikes. Most have already said they would.

The article discusses the impact of expanding AI data centers on the national electrical grid, which has contributed to a more than 6% rise in average electricity prices over the past year. This increase poses political challenges ahead of upcoming elections, prompting President Donald Trump to call on major tech companies to assume responsibility for their power needs by building their own power plants. Several leading tech firms, including Microsoft and Google, have already publicly committed to covering the electricity cost increases linked to their data centers, either by paying higher rates or investing in their own energy sources. However, the specifics of how these commitments will be implemented and how responsibility for price hikes will be allocated remain unclear. The White House has not provided detailed responses to inquiries about the policy, and some lawmakers, such as Senator Mark Kelly, argue that informal agreements with tech companies are insufficient. Additionally, experts caution that on-site power plants may not fully resolve the issue, as they could strain supply chains for natural gas, turbines, photovoltaics, and batteries,