The rapid expansion of AI-powered data centers could strain the US energy grid, according to a new report by Bloomberg.

The agency found that over half of households experiencing significant power distortions are located within 32 km of major data centers.

Experts analyzed data from 1 million home sensors tracked by Whisker Labs, along with market analytics from DC Byte. Their findings suggest a link between the proximity of data centers and disruptions in electricity flow.

Bloomberg warns that such issues could lead to appliance failures, increase fire risks, and cause power outages. AI-driven data centers could exacerbate the problem due to their unpredictable energy demands.

“No power grid is designed to handle such load fluctuations from one or more data centers at a single time,” commented Aman Joshi, Chief Commercial Officer of Bloom Energy.

A spokesperson for Illinois’ largest utility company, Commonwealth Edison, expressed skepticism regarding the accuracy of Whisker Labs’ claims.

In July, Bernstein forecasted when the US might face electricity shortages due to AI.