California signs seven bills making AI data centers pay their own utility costs

The Verge AI · rss · 2026-09-22

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed seven bills designed to prevent AI data centers from passing utility costs onto residents, the LA Times first reported. The package requires the California Public Utilities Commission to create a new rate classification for data centers and forces them to fund upgrades to local power grids and water systems.

Other bills require proposed data centers to disclose estimated water use, energy efficiency and drought planning to local governments, and to meet certain energy, water and fuel consumption standards.

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