The trick: Moved Ruler
Three senators say AI data center companies revealed they are not paying their full costs.
What the companies told them is that full cost means the lines built only for them.
Senators Warren, Van Hollen and Blumenthal released their data center findings on 9 October under the headline that AI data center companies reveal they are not paying their full costs.
Before you read on. Your call?
TRUE, BUT
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Their own release says what the companies disclosed: all data center developers made clear that their commitments to paying their full energy costs and full cost of service refer to the costs of infrastructure exclusively benefitting them. The companies broadly opposed but-for standards that would make them pay the full cost of any upgrades their facilities trigger, arguing those costs should be shared by all ratepayers.
The twist
Both sides say full cost and mean different things. Microsoft's January pledge said it would pay its way so its datacenters do not increase electricity prices, and would keep paying for transmission and substation improvements its expansion requires. The senators' headline measures every company against the but-for standard the companies reject.
There’s more to this story.
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The trick has a name
We call it Moved Ruler: two methods, two answers, one of them quoted. You'll see it again. Learn to spot it →
Receipts
- Supports legistorm.com:
AI Data Center Companies Reveal to Warren, Blumenthal, Van Hollen They Are Not Paying Their Full Costs
- Supports web.archive.org:
all data center developers made clear that their commitments to paying their "full energy costs" and "full cost of service" refer to the costs of infrastructure exclusively benefitting them
- Supports web.archive.org:
The companies broadly opposed "but-for" cost allocation standards requiring them to pay the full cost of any upgrades triggered by their facilities
- Context web.archive.org:
instead arguing that these costs should be shared by all ratepayers
- Context web.archive.org:
[T]he companies commit to paying for infrastructure that solely benefits them, but dispute how much they should pay for shared infrastructure that is paid for by all ratepayers but was only built to accommodate the data center
- Context web.archive.org:
On December 15, 2025, the lawmakers sent letters to Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, CoreWeave, Digital Realty, and Equinix
- Context mlex.com:
The senators questioned Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft and others about their energy cost-sharing policies, use of nondisclosure agreements and tax incentives.
- Refutes web.archive.org:
We'll pay our way to ensure our datacenters don't increase your electricity prices.
- Refutes web.archive.org:
When our datacenter expansion requires improvements in transmission and substation capabilities, we will continue our existing practices by paying for these improvements.
- Context web.archive.org:
Our goal is straightforward: to ensure that the electricity cost of serving our datacenters is not passed on to residential customers.
Open the Receipts Pack → What each source proves, every figure traced, and what would change our verdict.
