As debate continues over how Pennsylvania should regulate data centers, some residents are raising concerns about what the rapid growth of artificial intelligence could mean for their electric bills.
A recent study conducted by The Brattle Group found Pennsylvania electricity prices have increased 41% over the past five years, adding to financial pressure for households across the state. Nearly one in five Pennsylvania residents are struggling to pay their electric bills.
Now, as demand for artificial intelligence continues to grow, questions remain about how many new data centers will actually be needed to support that demand.
Brian Marshall, Virtual Chief Information Officer with Velocity Network, said he believes the current push to build data centers resembles a “gold rush.”
“AI is going some pretty wonderful things right now with the data centers we already have. I’m not seeing this giant need for more, personally,” Marshall said.
Marshall said he does not believe thousands of new data centers will necessarily be required as AI technology continues to advance.
“I’m not saying that we should wait to build until that happens, but I don’t see thousands of data centers being necessary to make this happen,” he said.
The issue is particularly significant for Pennsylvania residents already dealing with higher electricity costs.
The study also found wholesale electricity prices are expected to double in 2026, driven in part by projected growth in power demand from new data centers.
That expected increase is adding to concerns among residents and communities weighing the potential economic benefits of data center development against the possible impact on electricity costs.
As Pennsylvania continues debating data center regulations, the growing demand for electricity tied to AI remains a key question: how much new infrastructure will be needed, and who will ultimately pay for it?