California is not seeing the same wave of data center construction as many other states, largely because its electricity prices are already among the highest in the country. Even so, large facilities are still being built and proposed across the state, and lawmakers are worried about what that means for ratepayers.
Several major bills aimed at limiting the impact of data centers on utility costs have now advanced in the state legislature, according to Canary Media. The measures are designed to prevent the facilities from shifting financial burdens onto residential customers, but they have drawn opposition from industry groups.
The fact that the bills are moving forward suggests growing political will to treat data centers as a distinct and potentially costly part of California's energy system. The outcome will depend on how the legislation evolves and whether industry concerns reshape its final form.