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Northeast Ohioans are experiencing sticker shock when opening their electric bills, with many reporting their costs have doubled or even tripled in recent months. Wednesday’s episode of Today in Ohio dives into the crisis, revealing the connection between the dramatic increases and the massive power demands of data centers and artificial intelligence. When cleveland.com’s Chris Quinn reached out to readers via text message to share their experiences with rising electric costs, the response was overwhelming. “When people wrote to you, Chris, and you sent out this message on Subtext and asked people to share their experiences, they said their bills doubled or tripled even when they were trying to decrease usage,” explained Laura Johnston. “So, they weren’t just running their air conditioning and all of their electronics at the same time and just driving it up.” The hosts connected the massive increases to wholesale electricity auctions that set record-high prices last summer, with another price hike already scheduled for next year. Behind the increases are the enormous power demands of data centers and AI technologies, which are straining the electrical grid. What angered many residents was learning that these same data centers often receive generous tax breaks from Gov. Mike DeWine and the state, effectively making ordinary citizens subsidize corporate profits twice—once through tax incentives and again through higher utility bills. “That was a constant refrain in the messages I received is that the state has subsidized these data centers, given them big tax breaks on our backs, and now we’re paying a huge fee for them in the cost of power to subsidize these companies,” Quinn noted. “And there’s this bogus report out from the state chamber of commerce claiming a huge financial impact from these data centers. It’s just nonsense.” The podcast discussion revealed how the price hikes are part of a broader pattern of economic inequality, where corporations reap profits while ordinary citizens struggle with escalating costs of living. “It’s really gross when you think about it, that these companies are just making money, both the energy companies and all of the cloud computing and all this stuff that’s using all the power,” said Johnston. “And the people who are paying for it are the consumers, the regular everyday Joes, some of them who say, I’m on a fixed income, I can’t afford this. You add that to the price of groceries and the price of property taxes and people are just feeling priced out of life.” The podcast highlighted how this crisis reflects deeper issues with Ohio’s energy policies and regulatory oversight, particularly in light of the HB6 scandal that revealed how utility companies have influenced state politics. Listen to the discussion here. Read more Today in Ohio news Jim Jordan’s selective outrage on government weaponization is exposed by his latest antics They’re Giving Up on America:" Ohio GOP want its own currency in case America’s collapses Cleveland council president is challenging mayor over Browns deal, but did he overstep?
