Over the last half decade, wholesale electricity prices have increased 267% in places close to data centers. That’s contributed to a backlash against new ones.
But some experts believe data centers are a scapegoat for long-term issues with an aging U.S. grid. Today on the show, we ask who is responsible for rising electricity prices and whether the U.S. can handle a new era of grid growth.
Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here: planetmoneybook.com/#tour
Related episodes:
All these data centers are gonna fry my electric bill … right?
What AI data centers are doing to your electric bill
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Hosts & Guests
Information
- Show
- Channel
- FrequencyUpdated daily
- Published9 April 2026 at 07:00 UTC
- Length8 min
- RatingClean
