The rapid expansion of data centres catering to artificial intelligence (AI) demands is raising concerns about its impact on the U.S. power grid, according to a recent report by Bloomberg.

Analysis combining data from 1 million residential sensors tracked by Whisker Labs and market intelligence data from DC Byte suggests a correlation between data centre activity and disruptions in the electrical supply. Over half of households experiencing significant power distortions were located within 20 miles of large data centres, as per the report.

These distortions, referred to as "bad harmonics," indicate irregular electrical flows into homes. Such issues could damage plugged-in appliances, heighten the risk of electrical fires, and even lead to brownouts and blackouts. AI data centres, in particular, pose challenges due to their highly variable energy demands. However, a representative from Commonwealth Edison, an electric utility company, in Chicago strongly questioned the accuracy and underlying assumptions of these claims.