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Why AIEnergy started

AIEnergy started to correct the erroneous “Data centers are driving up electric rates” stories. AI was just an excuse for the companies involved to raise rates and use obsolete technologies. In very few places did AI raise overall demand more than 2 or 3% per year, less than renewables + batteries + demand response are able to serve. NYT & WSJ believed the hype.

Everyone in energy knows the tech is ready to handle the demand and actually lower prices, but the system is effed up. Good reporting in the energy press and from researchers makes that clear.

I learned from some very smart people and will write as long as I have something to contribute. I’m veteran tech reporter Dave Burstein (daveb@dslprime.com), and I love to hear from you. It’s a great service when you catch my mistakes.

  • US RTO Capacity Auction Prices (2022-2028) Summarized

    This is a backgrounder Claude Opus created for me for articles above. I have not carefully factchecked it exdept what I quoted in the articles. DO NOT USE ANY DATA…

    Dave Burstein

  • Wall Streeter: Massive increase in Gas generation

    Reputable source sees huge build of gas generation. I believe that renewables will keep gaining share, as they are in every other country We publish interesting analysis, even if we…

    Dave Burstein

  • Voltus Demands PJM Rules Must change for Demand Response

    Voltus lowers peak demand rather than building new generation. Important facts PJM filed the Reliability Backstop Procurement on July 31, 2026. It is a one-time procurement aimed at the 6,831…

    Dave Burstein

  • Google 2025 Flexibility Deals Show Solution

    Reducing demand 40-70 hours a year (1%) means the data center does not require generation upgrades that raise consumer prices. If the data center can cut demand or switch to…

    Dave Burstein

  • Columbia: Rising Electric Prices from Utility choices, not DC

    By Robin Millican, Douglas J. Arent, and David Sandalow | Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia SIPA, June 23, 2026 Drawing on new LBNL/Brattle data and a CGEP roundtable series,…

    Dave Burstein

  • The Effects of Load Growth on Electricity Prices in the United States: A Literature Review

    From Columbia. electricity prices rose more than twice as fast as inflation in 2025 — a break from six years of tracking it — and the culprit isn’t data centers…

    Dave Burstein

  • New Jersey Requires Flexible DC Connections, Energy Saving

    Gov. Sherrill signed the reconciled S731/A796 into law on June 30, 2026, ordering the Board of Public Utilities to build a mandatory tariff class for “large data center customers” —…

    Dave Burstein

  • Australia: 2025 prices fallling

    batteries & Renewables Australia is the largest gas exporter in East Asia but is replacing gas generation with renewables. Lower battery prices have made solar economical into the evening. Solar…

    Dave Burstein

  • Electricity Mid-Year Update 2026: IEA

    Global electricity demand growth is accelerating despite a Middle East-driven gas price shock, with renewables set to overtake coal in 2026 for the first time — a faster shift than…

    Dave Burstein

  • Duke: 1% of Time on Backup power = 50+ GW Electricity

    University paper confirms fixing the rules frees enough electricity to cover years of US AI growth using grid connection flexibility. FERC is making it happen. Several other sources confirm this…

    Dave Burstein