A Senate Democrat is proposing a bill that would require large data centers to secure their own power in a bid to reduce energy costs.

Well of course they should pay for their own power!! They’re private companies! What am I missing here?

“ Data centers must pay for the grid upgrades they require and can’t siphon power from existing power plants, according to the bill. It also directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to update its rules related to transmission lines — which transport electricity — to allow data centers to reduce demand during peak energy hours. “

This seems reasonable to me.

  • WideEyedStupid@lemmy.world
    23·
    9 days ago

    I don’t get it. Why aren’t they already paying for their power? Why is this bill necessary? It sounds like common fucking sense to me, so why isn’t that the default?

    So who’s paying for their power now?

    • Melllvar@startrek.websiteEnglish
      15·
      9 days ago

      They do pay for their power. The bill would require them to pay for grid upgrades that their usage makes necessary.

        • tburkhol@slrpnk.net
          9·
          9 days ago

          At least my provider, when they need to build a new plant or do capacity upgrades, they get the PSC to give them blanket increases in service charge or kWh-rate, on the basis that everybody contributes to the higher demand. Now we’ve got single customers claiming they want the full output of two or three power plants, and why should I pay the mortgage on those plants for 20 years? When the data center will be gone in 5?