New Report: Data Centers Could Already Be Costing Utility Customers ~$11/mo. in One State

Today, Synapse Energy released a report on behalf of Environmental Advocates Mississippi and Earthjustice, “In the Dark: Data Centers Could Be Costing Mississippi Households.” The report finds that average bills are already up to $10.60 higher per month for Entergy Mississippi’s residential customers as a result of investments to serve data centers—a cost that could grow, according to publicly available information. This report analyzes how Entergy Mississippi’s costs to serve data centers are currently—today—being added to residential electric rates.

“Entergy Mississippi needs to disclose its secret contracts with data centers so we can know for sure that we’re not footing the bill to bring electricity to these trillion-dollar companies,” said Yolanda Daniel, member of Environmental Advocates Mississippi. “Politicians and CEOs keep telling us this will save us money, but they need to show us the receipts. We deserve policies that protect us, not promises that neglect us.”

In 2024, Mississippi lawmakers passed an unprecedented law that allows nondisclosure agreements between these large data centers and Entergy Mississippi. The law also undermines consumer protections and key oversight mechanisms from the Mississippi Public Service Commission (PSC).

In 2025, Entergy Mississippi launched the largest grid upgrade in its history—presumably to serve new data centers. The company has publicly stated that data centers, despite being extremely energy-intensive, would come “at no new cost to customers.” However, by March 2026, Entergy Mississippi residential customers have already paid $38 million in electricity grid enhancements —and will be expected to contribute an additional $80 million by the end of the year on investments that appear to be in service of new data center loads. The total grid enhancement project, called Superpower Mississippi, is expected to cost $300 million over five years.

“Mississippi legislators are leaving customers in the dark and potentially on the hook for millions in grid upgrades, mainly for new data centers,” asserts Jen Powis, managing attorney for Earthjustice, a public interest law firm. “Other states are passing laws to protect consumers, and this report highlights opportunities for Mississippi lawmakers to prioritize Mississippi households over these large, energy-intensive data centers.”