If it seems like your electricity bill is higher than it’s ever been, you’re probably right.
Americans’ electricity costs rose by 30% between 2021 and 2025 and show no signs of going down. And with the war in Iran threatening the global oil supply, and data centers pushing up energy demands and prices, the cost of energy is almost guaranteed to increase even more.
In an unlikely collaboration, Google and Tesla are paying attention to Americans’ unease and sentiment. The two companies announced on Tuesday they are partnering to lower electricity costs and improve the efficiency of the electrical grid. The two Silicon Valley giants are joining HVAC powerhouse Carrier, data center builder Verrus, electrical panel startup Span, and energy distributors Renew Home and Sparkfund, to form a coalition called Utilize.
“The time for greater grid utilization is NOW,” the coalition’s website reads, adding that the power grid needs to be “bigger and smarter at the same time.”
They argue that “underutilization” of the electric grid is the reason why electricity bills are so high. In a study of 22 regional electric systems, researchers at Duke University found a troubling statistic: most systems are handling a little more than half of what they’re capable of, operating at 53% capacity on average. The coalition sees battery storage and distributed energy resources as potential solutions, according to a statement released on Tuesday.
