U.S. senators are demanding the Energy Information Administration (EIA) mandate energy usage reporting from data centers, citing widespread undercounting and inflated demand forecasts. Experts warn utilities are double-counting proposed projects, leading to "phantom" growth estimates up to five times actual needs.
The EIA has launched a voluntary pilot to collect energy, cooling, and server metrics from nearly 200 data centers in Texas, Washington, and Virginia. But senators argue voluntary measures are insufficient.
They question whether the EIA will require disclosure of behind-the-meter power and enforce compliance, as it does for oil, gas, and manufacturing sectors. The push comes amid concerns Big Tech’s White House pledge-that consumers won’t bear data center energy costs-lacks accountability.
"Without this data, policymakers and communities are operating in the dark," the senators wrote.
Meanwhile, Senator Bernie Sanders introduced a bill to halt all new data center construction until AI safety laws pass. Senator Dick Durbin proposed mandatory energy and water disclosure. Dozens of states are considering moratoriums.
The EIA has authority under existing law to collect this data-senators say it must act.