AI data centers driving up ComEd electricity prices, experts say

CHICAGO (WGN) – ComEd customers viewing their bill for this current billing cycle were hit with sticker shock, and it’s not only the hot weather that’s contributing.

Some customers reported paying double what they were billed last month.

On June 1, a supply rate increase took effect due to a spike in the wholesale cost on electricity and supply charge, as well as increased energy use in the region.

Jennifer Dunn, professor of chemical and biological engineering at Northwestern University, said data centers that provide services related to artificial intelligence are likely to blame.

“We’re also seeing nationally, but also in Illinois the effect of increasing demand on the grid from technologies have nothing to do with cooling people off. It has to do with providing services related to artificial intelligence or AI, so data centers that we see building out across the nation,” Dunn said.

On Wednesday, ComEd CEO Gil Quiniones spoke at the Global Quantum Forum in Chicago, referencing the future demand of electricity at the Illinois Quantum Microelectronics Park at the old U.S. Steel Site.

“We’re not going to be operating quantum computers, we’re going to be delivering power to them,” Quiniones said. “Quantum computers need to be kept at temperatures near absolute zero to ensure the stability of cubits. That requires a lot of electricity. In fact, ComEd’s nationwide reliability was a key factor in pPsiQuantum’s decision to be the anchor tenant of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park.”