I keep hearing how everyone’s electric bills are going up with AI data centers near them. Why aren’t the companies paying the bill? Or is it building the infrastructure to accommodate them the issue?

  • obsoleteacct@lemmy.zip
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    6 hours ago

    They can turn off some generators and adjust the supply down for ideal revenue/profits, reduce staffing levels, and extend equipment life. There’s no reason for them to charge you $50 for something once you’ve told them you’ll pay $100 for it.

    You should listen to some of the recordings of the energy traders at Enron. They did this stuff all the time.

    • spongebue@lemmy.world
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      5 hours ago

      Still nothing terribly new here. Energy has always had inelastic demand, meaning usage doesn’t change much with price. Whether gas costs 1, 3, or 5 dollars people still need to get to work and will still buy stuff. Maybe people will start to combine trips or whatever with higher prices, but nothing huge.

      • obsoleteacct@lemmy.zip
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        2 hours ago

        Exactly, so there’s never a reason to bring down the price. If anything you’d bring down the supply (e.g. Enron during the California energy crisis).

        • spongebue@lemmy.world
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          41 minutes ago

          I mean… Gas prices are relatively low right now, at least here in 'Merica. I’ve seen them more than double what they are now, how did that happen?