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Catalyst with Shayle Kann

Catalyst with Shayle Kann

Do data centers actually increase electricity prices? No...and yes

Sep 10, 2026 · 42m

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About this episode

You don’t have to look far to see the vitriol and backlash ignited by the rapid expansion of hyperscaler data centers. While critics and activists tend to focus their ire on resource consumption and residents’ electricity bills, the reality of data center economics is far more complex. In this episode of Catalyst, host Shayle Kann sits down with Andy Lubershane, head of research at Energy Impact Partners, to unpack the nuances. They crunch the numbers behind utility rate structures, consider the "denominator effect" that can lower customers’ rates, and dig into the supply chain crunches pushing global power system costs higher. Shayle and Andy discuss: - Why a new data center can reduce…