Jon Ossoff Investigates AI Data Center Impact on Georgia Power Bills

U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff launched a federal inquiry into whether the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence data centers is increasing electricity costs for Georgia residents. In a letter to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Laura V. Swett, Ossoff requested information by June 1, 2026, regarding energy load forecasting and the enforceability of pledges by technology companies to cover their own power costs.

The probe follows a December 2025 decision by the Georgia Public Service Commission to allow Georgia Power to generate 9,885 megawatts of new energy specifically to serve large customers, including data centers. Ossoff noted that Georgia has seen $4.5 billion in AI-related investments since 2019, creating surging energy demands that could shift infrastructure costs onto households.

Ossoff questioned the credibility of claims that tech companies will pay for their own usage, warning that without proper safeguards, capital costs from increased generation could be passed to families already facing high utility bills.