Maryland has lodged a complaint with federal energy regulators over a $2 billion power grid upgrade cost that the state says is being unfairly passed to residents to support AI data centers located outside its borders. State officials argue the charges violate ratepayer protection commitments and constitute an unreasonable burden on consumers who won't benefit from the infrastructure.
Why it matters: As AI infrastructure demand explodes, this case highlights an emerging regulatory battleground over who bears the cost of grid expansion—a critical issue affecting utility bills, energy policy, and how states can control AI-driven infrastructure sprawl.