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Could California data center bills help lower energy costs?

California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks
California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at the Bay Area Discovery Museum, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, in Sausalito, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

AI data centers require frequent power grid updates, which residents say, can pass high energy costs on to California taxpayers. California Governor Gavin Newsom is expected to sign Assembly Bill 2383 and Senate Bill 886, which would make AI data centers pay for their own updates. Professor Chip Zukoski with the Viterbi School of Engineering shares his insights on how these bills might affect energy costs.