BusinessJanuary 16, 2026

Who Pays for Data Center Power?

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② Start Lesson

Key Vocabulary

megawatt/ˈmɛɡəˌwɑːt/

a unit of power equal to one million watts

"The data center needs many megawatts of power."

ratepayer/ˈreɪtˌpeɪər/

a person who pays for public utility services, like electricity

"Ratepayers are worried about higher bills."

contract/ˈkɒn.trækt/

a written agreement to do or pay for something

"The company signed a ten-year contract for power."

Listening

Who Pays for Data Center Power?

Lawmakers at state and federal levels want big data centers to pay more for electricity. They say these centers use a lot of power and can raise bills for nearby homes and small businesses.

In Oregon, the POWER Act (House Bill 3546) creates a new rate class for very large users above 20 megawatts and asks them to sign ten-year contracts to buy power. Rep. Pam Marsh is the bill sponsor.

U.S. senators have opened an investigation asking big tech companies for details about how they will avoid raising household bills. Data centers used about 4.4% of U.S. electricity in 2023 and are expected to use more by 2028.

109 words

Quiz

1. What is the name of the Oregon bill?

2. Who sponsored the bill?

3. How much of U.S. electricity did data centers use in 2023?

Reading Practice

Read the article from the Listening section aloud. Your AI teacher will give you pronunciation feedback.

Discussion

Do you notice large buildings or factories near your town that use a lot of electricity? What is your impression?

Have you ever had a higher household bill for electricity? What did you do?

What do you think about companies signing long contracts to buy power? Would that make you feel safer?