Feds will require data centers to show their power bills

In a significant move towards energy transparency, the Energy Information Agency (EIA) has announced plans to mandate data centers to provide detailed reports on their energy usage. This decision follows a request from U.S. Senators Josh Hawley and Elizabeth Warren, who urged the EIA to address the growing energy consumption within this sector. The initiative aims to gather comprehensive data on the energy demands of data centers, an industry known for its substantial and increasing power needs. According to reports by Wired, the forthcoming nationwide survey will be compulsory, although the EIA has yet to establish a timeline for when the new requirements will take effect. Earlier this year, in March, the EIA conducted a pilot survey involving 196 companies located in Texas, Washington State, and the Washington D.C.-Northern Virginia area. Following this, another survey was announced in April, set to take place across three additional states. EIA chief Tristan Abbey anticipates that the initial pilot surveys will wrap up by September, paving the way for the development of the mandatory survey that will encompass data centers across the country.