POLICY · REGULATION · #894
California requires data centers to disclose energy and water use and face new utility rules
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed seven bills that increase transparency and regulatory oversight of data centers in California: they require monthly energy reporting, water-use disclosures, direct the California Public Utilities Commission to create separate power rates for data centers, remove categorical CEQA exemptions for data centers, and make operators responsible for certain infrastructure costs. The rules, which start taking effect next year in parts, aim to give communities and researchers better data on how data centers affect electricity bills, water supplies, and local infrastructure.
KEY POINTS
- Gavin Newsom signed seven bills that increase transparency and regulatory oversight of data centers in California: they require monthly energy reporting, water-use disclosures, direct the California Public Utilities Commission to create separate power rates for data centers, remove categorical CEQA exemptions for data centers, and make operators responsible for certain infrastructure costs.
- The rules, which start taking effect next year in parts, aim to give communities and researchers better data on how data centers affect electricity bills, water supplies, and local infrastructure.
- The laws create the first statewide public data and utility rules to assess and limit how much data centers may shift electricity and water costs and environmental impacts onto communities and ratepayers.
WHY IT MATTERS
The laws create the first statewide public data and utility rules to assess and limit how much data centers may shift electricity and water costs and environmental impacts onto communities and ratepayers.