In some areas, the rate is even faster - in Washington, D.C., electricity costs increased 93 percent from July 2020 to July 2025. Commercial users, spanning everything from small corner stores to giant, energy-sucking data centers, have seen rates increase just 3 percent. “Everybody comes in with their own self-interest.”In general, residential customers have the least lobbying power, compared with large data centers or other companies. “I’m not even sure if data centers are paying the ‘commercial’ price,” said Peskoe, one of the authors of the report. Virginia recently established a new class for data centers and other huge users of electricity, with agreements in place to make sure the data centers pay for more of the grid upgrades required.

Source: Washington Post January 16, 2026 10:53 UTC