Research Study

How AI Data Centers
Impact Your Electric Bill

A groundbreaking study measuring the real economic impact of data center expansion on New Jersey households.

15 minutes · $10 compensation on Prolific

2×
Projected increase in data center electricity by 2026
8%
Of U.S. electricity could go to data centers by 2030
0
Studies measuring direct impact on household bills

Data Centers in Your Backyard

The tri-state area has become a major hub for data center development. See how close these facilities are to your community.

Map of data centers in NJ and tri-state area
Operational data centers
Planned / Under construction

Source: Data Center Map, 2024

The Challenge

The AI revolution has created unprecedented demand for computing power, straining regional power grids and threatening electricity affordability for millions of Americans.

Unprecedented Growth

Data center electricity demand is projected to double globally by 2026, driven by AI workloads.

Grid Strain

This massive, concentrated new load threatens stability and affordability of regional power systems.

Policy Gap

No one is measuring the real-world impact on monthly bills—policymakers are flying blind.

Team

Kiran Garimella
Kiran Garimella, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of Communication & Information, Rutgers University

Kiran's research focuses on computational social science, examining the intersection of technology, policy, and society.

Kaitlyn Rich
Kaitlyn Rich
PhD Student
School of Communication & Information, Rutgers University

Kaitlyn's research focuses on how both environment and material influence our understanding of memory and place.

Ready to Make a Difference?

Your electricity bills can help shape energy policy that protects NJ families.

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Research Consent Form

Please review the following information carefully.

Study Title

Impact of AI Data Center Expansion on Residential Electricity Prices in New Jersey

Principal Investigator

Kiran Garimella, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, School of Communication & Information
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Purpose

This study examines how AI data center expansion affects residential electricity prices in New Jersey. By analyzing actual utility bills, we aim to provide empirical evidence for energy policy decisions.

What You Will Do

If you agree to participate:

  • Complete a brief demographic survey (zip code, housing type, income bracket)
  • Download your electricity bills from the past 12-24 months from your utility provider
  • Upload these bills through our secure portal
  • Provide your Prolific ID for payment processing

The process takes approximately 15 minutes.

Compensation

You will receive $10 compensation through Prolific upon successful completion.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Minimal. Your bills contain address and usage information, kept strictly confidential.

Benefits: Your participation contributes to research that may help protect consumers from unfair pricing.

Confidentiality

All data is kept confidential. Your Prolific ID is stored separately from utility data. All identifying information is removed before analysis. Data is stored on secure, encrypted servers.

Voluntary Participation

Participation is entirely voluntary. You may withdraw at any time by contacting the research team.

Contact

Questions about the study: kiran.garimella@rutgers.edu

Questions about your rights: humansubjects@ored.rutgers.edu

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Demographic Survey

Help us understand how electricity costs affect different households.

About Your Household

This information helps us analyze electricity cost impacts across different communities. All responses are confidential.

Required for payment processing. You can find this in your Prolific account.

Your New Jersey ZIP code

Annual household income before taxes

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Upload Your Electricity Bills

Follow the steps below to download and upload your bills.

How to Download Your Bills

Note: These steps are for PSE&G. Your steps might vary depending on your provider. Click on any step to view larger.

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Drag and drop or click to select. We recommend uploading 12-24 months of bills.

Drag & drop files here

or click to browse

PDF, JPG, PNG accepted · Max 10MB per file
0 files selectedAdd 12-24 files for best results
or

Need help participating?

Request a Zoom call with our team for guided assistance.

Thank You

Your contribution is invaluable. Together, we're building evidence to protect New Jersey families.

Your submission has been recorded
Compensation will be processed through Prolific

Interested in a Follow-up Interview?

We may conduct brief follow-up interviews to better understand your experience with electricity costs. Would you be interested?

Thank you! We'll be in touch if selected for an interview.
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