Mississippi News

Entergy says data centers will deliver more than $2 billion in savings to Mississippi customers

Entergy Mississippi said customers will see more than $2 billion in projected savings over the next 20 years because of data center projects the utility is serving. The company said the projects strengthen grid reliability and can help keep electricity prices down, and that the Trump administration recently highlighted Entergy as a model for utility partnerships with tech companies.

Entergy said Amazon is expanding its investment in the state, including enlarging operations in Madison County, adding a new $1 billion project in Clinton and building a data center in Vicksburg. The company said those projects are expected to create thousands of jobs and generate billions in tax revenue.

The utility said grid investments already planned and budgeted to support the data centers will strengthen reliability across the 45 counties it serves. Entergy credited the direction and engagement of Gov. Tate Reeves, the Mississippi Legislature and the Mississippi Public Service Commission for helping secure agreements under which large technology customers will help pay costs for grid maintenance and upgrades that might otherwise fall to existing customers.

Entergy said its Fair Share Plus pledge requires tech companies to cover their share of costs and provide community benefits, and that contracts include prepayments, multiyear terms and financial safeguards to protect other customers. The company said Entergy Mississippi residential rates are about 20% below the national average and that new revenue from the commercial projects will allow an additional $300 million in grid improvements aimed at cutting power outages 50% within five years under its Superpower Mississippi plan.

Entergy said electricity costs were rising before data centers arrived and are expected to continue rising nationwide because of inflation, fuel-price volatility, supply-chain disruptions and aging infrastructure. The company said adding large customers such as Amazon can help ease bill impacts for residential and small-business customers, attract more business to the state and support long-term energy and infrastructure goals amid competition for artificial intelligence investments.

Source: Original Article

Jon Ross Myers

Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com

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