Anthropic Vows to Pay Full Power Bill for AI Data Centers

Company says Americans won't foot the bill for AI's expanding energy footprint.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Artificial intelligence startup Anthropic has announced that it will cover the full cost of electricity price increases linked to its growing network of U.S. data centers. The company pledged to pay for 100% of the grid upgrades needed to interconnect its facilities and procure additional electricity generation to avoid tightening local supply and inflating prices.

Why it matters

Anthropic's commitment comes as AI infrastructure is driving surging power demand across the country. The company's pledge to absorb these costs aims to prevent the burden from being passed on to American ratepayers as the industry rapidly expands computing capacity to meet growing demand for generative AI services.

The details

Anthropic said it plans to deploy grid optimization tools to ease peak demand and maintain stable rates. The announcement follows the company's earlier $50 billion commitment to invest in U.S. AI infrastructure, beginning with new data centers in Texas and New York. This buildout reflects a broader industry sprint to expand computing capacity as demand for generative AI accelerates.

  • Anthropic made the announcement on February 12, 2026.

The players

Anthropic

An artificial intelligence startup that is expanding its network of U.S. data centers to meet growing demand for generative AI services.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who has publicly urged technology companies to ensure their facilities do not translate into higher monthly bills for consumers.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We will pay for 100% of the grid upgrades needed to interconnect our data centers.”

— Anthropic (Anthropic blog post)

“The country needs to build new data centers quickly to maintain its competitiveness on AI and national security, but AI companies shouldn't leave American ratepayers to pick up the tab.”

— Anthropic (Anthropic blog post)

What’s next

Anthropic's pledge to cover the full cost of electricity price increases linked to its data centers is expected to help maintain stable utility rates for American consumers as the AI industry continues to expand its computing capacity.

The takeaway

Anthropic's commitment to absorbing the costs of its growing energy footprint sets a precedent for AI companies to take responsibility for the infrastructure demands of their technology, rather than passing those costs on to the public. This approach could help mitigate the impact of the AI boom on electricity prices and grid stability.