TEXAS — Energy demand is surging in Texas, and it might go even higher soon. 

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, also known as ERCOT, has voted on a resolution to add new rules on something called “large electronic loads.”

What does that mean for the grid, and for you at home? 

Artificial intelligence companies and data centers are more frequently calling Texas home, and even more could be on the way. That could mean a massive strain on the power grid. 

In a meeting on Monday, ERCOT revealed that large electronic loads, which refer to operations by places like data centers, were taken offline more than two dozen times in the past two years. 

These businesses are requesting more power from the grid to avoid going offline during outage events. 

ERCOT’s board approved a resolution to add new rules around power demands. They’ll look at how to keep these companies online but also accountable for their usage. 

However, not everyone is on board. 

The plan right now would raise the price tag for Texas power, which could mean a higher energy bill for you at home.

“Sixty-plus cryptocurrency miners on the grid have increased the wholesale price of electricity to all of us by more than 5%, said Ed Hirs, an energy fellow with the University of Houston. "If all of them show up, it would more than triple the daily electricity market that is ERCOT."

Hirs also said that current Texas data centers already take up the energy level of cities like San Antonio and El Paso, so there’s already a large impact on our grid before even considering more of them moving to the Lone Star State.

Experts like Hirs said those guidelines make sure Texas only attracts serious players and legitimate companies looking to use our energy.