39. The Cost of Powering the Future: Public Power, Data Centers, and the Strain on the Grid

In the latest Hilltop Talks episode, Tom Kozlik speaks with Rachel Cortez from Moody’s Ratings about the growing strain on U.S. power systems and the rising costs of electricity. Their discussion highlights how increasing demand—driven by data centers, electrification, and economic growth—combined with policy and infrastructure challenges, is reshaping the energy landscape. Both public and investor-owned utilities are facing mounting costs, political pressure, and regulatory scrutiny, suggesting that higher electricity bills and ongoing infrastructure investment will remain a reality for years to come.In this episode:·         The impact of data centers and AI on rising U.S. electricity costs·         Key drivers of increased demand and how electricity rates are determined·         How utilities are managing rapid growth in data center energy needs·         The role of carbon transition and net-zero policies in shaping electricity bills·         How data centers are influencing renewable energy goals and timelines·         Emerging technologies that could help address energy and affordability challenges·         Differences in impact between investor-owned utilities (IOUs) and public power providers