(Bismarck, ND) — Electricity costs are trending upward throughout North Dakota. Recent data shows that costs are up five-and-a-half-percent compared to last July. Officials attribute the increase to the demand for more power and transmission by data centers. The power demands are now leading to higher congestion costs as there aren’t enough transmission lines available for residential and commercial use. Utility companies, along with state and federal officials, are now looking for ways to address rising costs as more data centers are developed statewide.
