by Frank Bergman
Public schools in Henrico County, Virginia, are being told to cut electricity use as the region suffers through a brutal heatwave while dozens of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers continue consuming massive amounts of power.
Henrico County is home to 37 data centers.
Another 17 are on the way.
Now, as the East Coast bakes under dangerous summer heat, county officials are warning government employees and schools that electricity costs are soaring.
The demand came just days before the heatwave hit the area.
Beginning July 1, electricity rates for Henrico County government and school facilities will jump by 25 percent.
That increase is expected to cost taxpayers an estimated $5 million in the next fiscal year.
County Manager John Vithoulkas warned employees that more hikes are likely coming.
“Beginning July 1st, the rate we pay for electricity used in all Henrico County government and school facilities will increase dramatically — by 25 percent, increasing costs by an estimated $5 million next fiscal year,” Vithoulkas wrote in an email obtained by 404 Media.
“We anticipate more rate increases for electricity in the years ahead.”
Schools Told to Conserve Power
Vithoulkas did not explicitly mandate that schools turn down air conditioning.