Energy experts appeal: data centers cause energy prices to rise

As reported by Bloomberg, Commonwealth Edison has proposed changes to its tariffs that include higher security deposits for data centers. The company's CEO also wants data centers to post security in the event that "loads and revenues do not materialize as planned."

“We need to make sure we don’t pass on the costs associated with AI-based data centers to all other customers,” Quiniones said in an interview Wednesday.

Expanding AI infrastructure will increase energy demand

Concerns are growing about the impact of massive AI infrastructure expansion on everyday consumers. This boom is fueling the largest increase in US electricity demand in decades, and energy suppliers are struggling to keep up with demand.

Quiniones spoke at the Global Quantum Forum in Chicago, where utility executives, including ComEd owner Exelon and Southern, also addressed the issue. Southern CEO Chris Womack said Americans would revolt if burdened with rising energy costs related to artificial intelligence.

The increase in energy prices will affect companies and individual consumers

The result of Tuesday's electricity auction organized by PJM Interconnection, the largest operator in the US, showed that businesses and households will spend a record $16.1 billion on energy supplies in the year beginning in June 2026.

Prices would have been even higher if Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro had not filed a lawsuit to limit the increases, Exelon CEO Calvin Butler said during a panel discussion.

“Looking at the prices that were released yesterday, you can see they will continue to rise,” Butler said.

“The development of quantum computing in Illinois, along with the boom in artificial intelligence and data centers, warrants close monitoring,” Quiniones said.

Quantum computers are less energy-intensive than AI

Although quantum computers are less energy-intensive than artificial intelligence, Chicago's Quantum and Microelectronics Park, a project led by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, has already attracted more than $1 billion in investment from companies like PsiQuantum, International Business Machines, and Infleqtion.

"Right now, we're a state that exports energy," Quiniones said. "We have to monitor that very, very closely, working with PJM and our state regulators to make sure we make the right investments in the future, not only in generating capacity but also in the transmission system."