## Who Pays for AI Data Centers? The fight is usually framed as whether data centers get built. The harder question underneath it is "who pays and who decides?" The costs are intertwined. ## Introduction John Steinbach has lived in his Manassas, Virginia, home for nearly 40 years, and in January 2026 he opened an electricity bill for \$281, up from roughly \$100 the month before. "It's just so far beyond any bill that I've ever had," he told Consumer Reports. What worries him is where rates go next, as more AI data centers plug into the grid around him. He has plenty of company. A March 2026…