CHICAGO (WGN) – ComEd customers viewing their bill for this current billing cycle were hit with sticker shock, and it’s not only the hot weather that’s contributing.
Some customers reported paying double what they were billed last month.
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On June 1, a supply rate increase took effect due to a spike in the wholesale cost on electricity and supply charge, as well as increased energy use in the region.
Jennifer Dunn, professor of chemical and biological engineering at Northwestern University, said data centers that provide services related to artificial intelligence are likely to blame.
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“We’re also seeing nationally, but also in Illinois the effect of increasing demand on the grid from technologies have nothing to do with cooling people off. It has to do with providing services related to artificial intelligence or AI, so data centers that we see building out across the nation,” Dunn said…