She Has Never Used ChatGPT, but the AI Data Center Boom Is Raiding Her Retirement Electric Bill.

A 72-year-old retiree in Illinois is experiencing a 12% jump in her ComEd bill, partly due to increased electricity demand from AI data centers. The $13 monthly increase, or $156 annually, is consuming a significant portion of her 2026 Social Security COLA raise of 2.8%. This surge in electricity costs is affecting many retirees, pushing up US electricity consumption from 1.9% to 4.4% between 2018 and 2023.