Fisackerly and Oyer discuss how electric companies and large-load customers like Amazon are working together to deliver clear benefits to the grid and existing customers while strengthening reliability. The episode also highlights a new Energy and Environmental Economics (E3) study examining electricity rate design and tariffs for large loads like data centers, based on real-world case studies from Amazon’s partnerships with electric companies.

In the episode, Fisackerly, Maloney, and Oyer reflected on:

• Partnerships: “Data centers are critical infrastructure for our nation's economy and our national security. Electric companies are working closely with our technology partners to ensure these facilities improve the grid and benefit all customers,” said Maloney. “We are seeing examples of this win-win situation across the country. One example is the partnership between Amazon and Entergy Mississippi, and their collaboration to deliver value for customers and their communities while positioning the grid for the future.”
• Enhancing the grid: “We had a $600 million capital plan already planned to improve our grid. Because of the new revenues coming in from AWS, we're going to be able to increase that by more than 50 percent—spending another $300 million on our reliability plan,” said Fisackerly. “All of this will bring huge value. Because of AWS, we were able to pull a lot of those investments forward and improve reliability. We have a 50-percent reduction in outages with a 50-percent increase in spending, with no cost to customers. This is exciting, transformative, and it will make a difference in the lives of our customers and the communities we serve.”
• Strengthening the economy: “In Madison County, Mississippi, we're investing $10 billion to build two data center campuses, creating at least 1,000 full-time jobs. In Warren County, Mississippi, we're investing $3 billion—the largest private investment in the county's history. We’re creating another 200 jobs at that data center campus while supporting 300 additional jobs in and around the community,” said Oyer. “Combined, these investments will support an estimated 3,000 jobs to bring these data center campuses to life and add $3.9 billion to Mississippi's GDP.”
• Protecting existing customers: “[The E3 study] found that Amazon’s investments are enabling companies to make investments in the broader grid. Historically, customers would have to pay for this, but now that large load is coming along, these bigger customers are able to absorb that cost,” said Oyer. “These crucial investments in grid infrastructure do everything from meeting immediate needs to supporting local residents to driving commercial growth while improving reliability.”
• Benefits of cooperation: “What we’re able to do with Amazon is bring in this large customer with all the other benefits that Brandon discussed: new jobs and huge capital investments that are allowing us to make meaningful investments and improve the grid serving all of our customers,” said Fisackerly. “We're also seeing them pay the full freight of their costs. We're having to make upgrades to the transmission system that improves import capabilities that benefit everyone, and they're paying those incremental costs.”

Click here to listen to the full podcast, and explore our latest episodes below:

• Powering Data Centers in the Age of AI – featuring Ed Baine, executive vice president of Utility Operations and president of Dominion Energy Virginia, and Martin Hermann, CEO of BrightNight
• Why Permitting Reform Matters for America’s Energy Future – featuring EEI President and CEO Drew Maloney and President of ITC Holdings Krista Tanner
• Scaling AI in the Energy Industry – featuring Arizona Public Service Chief Information Officer Michelle Ferrara and Bidgely Chief Growth Officer Karthik Moorthy
• Building America’s Energy Workforce – featuring FirstEnergy Pennsylvania President John Hawkins, Center for Energy Workforce Development Executive Director Missy Henriksen, and EEI President and CEO Drew Maloney

The Electric Perspectives podcast discusses the latest trends and issues shaping the electric power industry. Each episode features an interview with guests including leaders from EEI and our member companies, government and industry partners, and energy thought leaders and experts. Click here to listen to more episodes and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.