Projected impact on electricity prices
Percent increase by scenario and region.
About this data
Data-center-dense regions face the steepest hikes: Virginia generation costs could rise as much as 57% by 2030, while the national wholesale electricity cost is projected to climb somewhere between 6% and 29% by the end of the decade. These are scenario estimates, not guarantees, and the range itself is the point — the outcome depends on how fast new generation is added.
Percent increase. Regions dense with data centers face the steepest hikes; the national wholesale range spans the low and high scenarios.
View data & sources →Data table
| pct | label | series | source_ref | value_basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 57 | Virginia generation cost, by 2030 | price_impact | fortune-dc-costs | Virginia electricity generation costs could rise as much as 57% by the end of the decade |
| 29 | US wholesale, decade-end (high) | price_impact | fortune-dc-costs | National average wholesale electricity cost could rise up to 29% by end of decade (high scenario) |
| 6 | US wholesale, decade-end (low) | price_impact | fortune-dc-costs | National average wholesale electricity cost could rise as little as 6% by end of decade (low scenario) |
Methodology & sources
Last updated: Jul 17, 2026Methodology
Two source-backed charts: US data-center power demand (GW, 2025 vs 2028) and the projected electricity-price impact (% increase) by region/scenario. Every numeric point carries a sources[].ref and a value_basis. Demand figures trace to CRS data-center energy analysis; the Virginia (+57% by 2030) and national wholesale (+6% to +29% by end of decade) price impacts trace to the Fortune / public-opinion reporting on data-center power costs. CAVEAT: price-impact figures are forward scenarios, not realized prices, and depend on how fast new generation is added. Ranges are shown as separate low/high bars rather than a single point. Re-verified 2026-07-17.
Comparisons are informative, not definitive. See each source for definitions and limits.