County tells workers to conserve power as rates rise in data center-heavy state

Key Points:

• Henrico County Manager John Vithoulkas has urged county employees to reduce electricity usage due to a 25% increase in power rates starting July 1, which is expected to raise costs by $5 million in the next fiscal year.
• Employees are advised to take energy-saving measures such as turning off lights, shutting down computers, closing blinds, and unplugging chargers to help manage rising expenses.
• The rate hike affects all members of the Virginia Energy Purchasing Governmental Association (VEPGA), which includes most municipalities north of Richmond.
• Virginia hosts the largest concentration of data centers in the U.S., particularly in Northern and Central Virginia, contributing significantly to increased statewide energy demand and higher costs for all electricity consumers.
• Vithoulkas referenced past austerity measures from the Great Recession, encouraging departments to find ways to reduce budgets by 3% amid ongoing electricity price pressures.