California forces data centers to disclose water and electricity use
california passes laws requiring data centers to disclose water and electricity usage, impacting ai infrastructure transparency. this affects data center operators and local communities.
california governor gavin newsom signed seven bills on september 23, 2026, to increase transparency and accountability for data centers' impact on local resources. the laws require data centers to disclose electricity and water usage, with monthly reporting mandated by assembly bill 1577. senate bill 886, assembly bill 2383, and senate bill 1168 direct the california public utilities commission to create separate power rates for data centers. the legislation aims to prevent data centers from passing on costs to other consumers and promote the use of renewable energy. this affects data center operators, local communities, and the environment, and may serve as a model for other states.