Virginia county asks schools, businesses to ‘save electricity’ as AI data center demand hits grid, raises energy prices

• The county manager is asking public sector employees to reduce consumption amid 25% price increases
• Hundreds of data centers in Virginia put a heavy load on the network
• The region is also facing temporary drought due to low rainfall

Virginia’s Henrico County is asking public sector employees to reduce electricity usage after a recent increase in power costs.

Under the new requirements, laid out by County Executive John Vithoulkas, employees are asked to turn off lights in unoccupied rooms, shut down computers at the end of each day, close blinds to reduce heat (and therefore air conditioning requirements), unplug unused appliances and avoid the use of portable space heaters.