US TO MANDATE DATA CENTER ENERGY SURVEY

INDUSTRY DESK■ 1 MIN READ

THU, APR 16, 2026

■ AI-SUMMARIZED FROM 1 SOURCE ▸ TIMELINE

The US Energy Information Administration plans to implement a mandatory nationwide survey measuring data center energy consumption. The agency outlined the plan in a letter to two senators obtained by WIRED.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) will require data centers across the country to report their power usage as part of a comprehensive assessment effort. The move addresses growing concerns about the energy demands of data infrastructure, particularly as artificial intelligence and cloud computing expand. Data centers currently consume significant portions of US electricity, and the scale of their power draw has become a critical policy issue. By establishing mandatory reporting requirements, the EIA aims to gather standardized data on energy use across the sector, enabling better forecasting and policy decisions. The survey represents the first comprehensive federal effort to track data center energy consumption at a national level. The information collected will inform energy planning and help policymakers understand infrastructure demands as computing workloads continue to increase.

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US TO MANDATE DATA CENTER ENERGY SURVEY

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