Trump Expands Ratepayer Protection Pledge to Curb AI Power Costs

Donald Trump will unveil an expanded Ratepayer Protection Pledge on Thursday designed to prevent the artificial intelligence boom from driving up electricity costs for American households. The nonbinding agreement requires companies building and operating data centers to pay rates above standard levels, ensuring that the increased demand for power does not result in higher bills for average consumers.

The White House states the expanded pledge will cover 80% of all power delivered to U.S. homes and businesses. The initiative is supported by a coalition of governors, lawmakers, utilities, and data center developers. President Trump will be joined for the announcement by Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin.

This move follows severe strain on regional electric grids, specifically within the PJM Interconnection, where a recent annual power auction resulted in record prices. In response to these supply and demand imbalances, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is scheduled to meet to discuss the situation.