Industry-Linked Study Finds No Historical Data Center Cost Shift to Households
How it leans No cost shift shown · Industry-linked (Amazon-funded analysis)
What's documented Reviews 11 quantitative studies plus original PJM analysis, but the underlying facility work was performed for Amazon and the release was promoted by the Data Center Coalition; weigh accordingly.
E3 reviewed 11 quantitative studies and ran its own PJM analysis and found no historical evidence that data centers are driving up residential rates under current structures, attributing increases to gas prices, grid modernization, resilience spending and market design. The catch is provenance: E3's facility-level work was done for Amazon and showed each site generating net surplus revenue, and the report was amplified by the Data Center Coalition. It is the best-argued case for the other side, but it is not a disinterested one.
- Reviewed 11 quantitative studies, interviewed experts, and analyzed PJM capacity auctions.
- Found load growth drove about half of PJM increases, with market design and plant retirements the other half.
- A prior E3 analysis of Amazon sites found each generated roughly $3.4 million in net surplus revenue to the utility.
- Released May 18, 2026; underlying facility analysis performed for Amazon, release promoted by the Data Center Coalition.