Economists warn that the AI data-center buildout is starting to show up in electricity pricing mechanisms in ways that spread costs across existing ratepayers. A Moody’s analysis cited in the article says capacity investment costs are “socialized” instead of borne by new large-load customers. The article also highlights PJM’s recent capacity auction outcomes, describing cleared prices hitting the cap while supply fell short of reliability needs. It links data-center demand to a portion of capacity charges attributable directly to AI load, suggesting that ordinary grid users may be funding grid upgrades and generation expansion indirectly. For higher education institutions—major electricity consumers subject to procurement and rate changes—this signals an emerging risk category for facilities planning, budgeting, and sustainability targets as AI-driven load grows.