The Pembina Institute estimates the data centre could raise an average Albertan household’s electricity bill by $270‑$460 each year. “Hundreds of dollars per year on average over the coming years on bills is a pretty stark reminder,” said David Pickup, director of energy at the Pembina Institute.

The centre will be connected to the adjacent $4.6‑billion Greenlight Electricity Centre, a 932‑megawatt plant that can eventually double its output. However, Meta has rights to draw power from Alberta’s grid before Greenlight is expected to start operating, which is not until late 2030.

Experts warn that the gap between the data centre’s start‑up and the plant’s completion – roughly the period from 2027 to 2031 – could lift wholesale electricity prices, potentially increasing consumer rates by 10‑15 per cent. “Something like a data centre that uses as much electricity as a small city will move the needle if they don’t bring their own generation,” said Kent Fellows, associate professor of economics at the University of Calgary.

Provincial officials and Meta say the project will not raise electricity costs for Albertans. Analysts such as David Pickup and Kent Fellows disagree, pointing to the timing mismatch and the extra demand on the grid.

University of British Columbia professor Werner Antweiler notes that the data centre could require nearly one gigawatt of power – about 10 % of Alberta’s existing generating capacity – and that this could erode the supply cushion that helps keep prices stable. He says a roughly 15 % price rise is plausible, though there is uncertainty.

If the new generation does not come online at the same time as the data centre, Albertans could see higher power bills until the Greenlight plant is fully operational.