Getting data center load forecasts wrong could cost US ratepayers $79B to $624B in extra grid spending.
At Aurora Energy Research's forum, 2030 data center load forecasts ranged from about 22 GW to 131 GW. Grid operators expect about 63 GW more demand than Aurora's base case, and getting it wrong could mean $79B to $624B in extra capex. Ratepayers pay for the miss either way.