Anthropic Vows to Cover Electricity Cost Increases for Consumers

AI company pledges to pay for grid upgrades and offset any price hikes caused by its energy-intensive data centers.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Anthropic, an artificial intelligence company, has announced that it will work with utility providers to cover the likely price increases in electricity that will result from its energy-intensive data centers. The company says it will pay for 100% of the grid upgrades needed to connect its facilities and will also invest in new power sources to minimize the strain on the existing grid.

Why it matters

As AI companies rapidly expand their data center infrastructure, there is a risk that the increased electricity demand could drive up costs for regular consumers. Anthropic's pledge aims to address this issue and ensure that the growth of the AI industry does not unfairly burden American ratepayers.

The details

Anthropic says the U.S. AI sector will need at least 50 gigawatts of additional data center capacity over the next several years. To support this growth, the company will pay for the infrastructure upgrades that electricity providers need to make, including the installation of new transmission lines and substations. Anthropic will also try to procure new power sources to match its electricity needs, and invest in curtailment systems to optimize its data centers' energy usage during periods of high demand.

  • Anthropic made this pledge on February 11, 2026.

The players

Anthropic PBC

An artificial intelligence model maker that has pledged to protect consumers from rising electricity costs caused by its energy-intensive data centers.

New York Senators

Lawmakers who have introduced a bill to temporarily halt new data center permits in the state and establish a commission to study ways to minimize the impact of data centers on electricity and gas rates.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen

A Democratic senator who has proposed a bill that would require AI companies to pay for any increases in electricity prices and the infrastructure needed to add capacity to existing grids.

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What they’re saying

“The U.S. AI sector will need at least 50 gigawatts of capacity over the next several years. But AI companies shouldn't leave American ratepayers to pick up the tab.”

— Anthropic (Anthropic blog post)

“We will pay for 100% of the grid upgrades needed to interconnect our data centers, paid through increases to our monthly electricity charges. This includes the shares of these costs that would otherwise be passed onto consumers.”

— Anthropic (Anthropic blog post)

What’s next

Anthropic says it will continue to work with utility providers to estimate and cover the likely price increases from its data centers. The company also plans to invest in new power sources and curtailment systems to minimize the impact on the grid.

The takeaway

Anthropic's pledge to cover the costs of grid upgrades and offset any electricity price hikes caused by its data centers sets an important precedent for the AI industry. This move aims to ensure that the growth of AI does not unfairly burden American consumers, and could inspire other tech giants to follow suit.