Senators are pushing to find out how much electricity data centers actually use | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Senators are pushing to find out how much electricity data centers actually useComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...PolicyClosePolicyPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PolicyAICloseAIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AINewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsSenators are pushing to find out how much electricity data centers actually useA bipartisan letter is the latest attempt to hold data centers accountable for rising electricity costs.A bipartisan letter is the latest attempt to hold data centers accountable for rising electricity costs.by Stevie BonifieldCloseStevie BonifieldNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Stevie BonifieldMar 26, 2026, 2:25 PM UTCLinkShareGiftAn Amazon data center in Oregon. Image: AmazonStevie BonifieldCloseStevie BonifieldPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Stevie Bonifield is a news writer covering all things consumer tech. Stevie started out at Laptop Mag writing news and reviews on hardware, gaming, and AI.On Thursday, senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) sent a letter to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) asking it to collect “comprehensive, annual energy-use disclosures” on data centers and make that information publicly available, as first reported by Wired. They’re urging the agency to “establish a mandatory annual reporting requirement for data centers,” saying the data is “essential for accurate grid planning,” and ensuring the seven tech companies that signed the Ratepayer Protection Pledge earlier this month adhere to their commitments.The EIA announced Wednesday that it’s launching a voluntary pilot program to evaluate data center energy use in Texas, Washington, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC. What Warren and Hawley are calling for in their letter is broader, mandatory reporting on data center energy consumption.RelatedCommunities are rising up against data centers — and winningOn Wednesday, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) introduced a bill proposing a moratorium on data center construction. Similarly, in February, senators Hawley and Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced a bill aiming to slow electricity cost increases stemming from data centers.Numerous state-level bills are also under consideration, like one in New York that would put a three-year pause on new data center construction. In December, Democratic lawmakers also wrote to tech companies and data center developers demanding answers on power use and potential expansion plans.Update, March 26th: Added additional commentary from senators Warren and Hawley’s letter.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Stevie BonifieldCloseStevie BonifieldNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Stevie BonifieldAICloseAIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AINewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsPolicyClosePolicyPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PolicyMost PopularMost PopularThe United States router ban, explainedSeiko resurrected a 44-year-old digital watch NASA astronauts wore to spaceIntel and LG Display may have beaten Apple and Qualcomm with the best laptop battery life everThe best deals we’ve found from Amazon’s Big Spring Sale (so far)Nintendo is going to charge less for digital Switch 2 gamesThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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A bipartisan effort is underway within the United States Senate, spearheaded by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Josh Hawley, to gain a more granular understanding of the electricity consumption patterns of data centers. This initiative stems from growing concerns regarding the escalating costs associated with electricity usage by these facilities and whether major tech companies, particularly those committed to the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, are adhering to their stated commitments. The core of the proposal centers on establishing a mandatory annual reporting requirement for data centers, directed by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). This would necessitate comprehensive disclosure of energy-use data to facilitate more accurate grid planning and, crucially, accountability.

Currently, the EIA is conducting a voluntary pilot program focusing on data center energy use in specific locations – Texas, Washington, Northern Virginia, and Washington, D.C. – but the senators are advocating for a significantly broader, mandated approach. This expanded scope is viewed as essential to illuminating the true extent of data center energy consumption and its impact on the broader energy infrastructure. The demand for this information is rooted in the recognition that data centers, increasingly vital for cloud computing and artificial intelligence, are consuming vast amounts of power, contributing to rising electricity costs and potentially straining grid resources.

This effort aligns with existing legislative actions at the state level. Numerous states, including New York, are considering measures – such as moratoriums on new data center construction – to address concerns about electricity costs and environmental impacts. Previous communications from Democratic lawmakers to tech companies and data center developers have similarly sought clarification on power usage and expansion plans. These concurrent actions across governmental levels represent a concerted push for greater transparency and oversight within the data center sector. The ambition is to not only understand the current consumption but to proactively shape future development and mitigate potential challenges. The senators' push for mandatory reporting underlines an attempt to leverage regulatory mechanisms to ensure responsible resource utilization and to hold tech giants accountable for their operational impact on the nation’s energy grid.