Crypto Mining in Texas Linked to a $1.8 Billion Increase in Annual Energy Bills for Residents

A recent surge in cryptocurrency mining operations in Texas may be causing a 5% annual increase in electric bills for power customers across the state. According to a simulation conducted by energy research and consulting firm Wood Mackenzie for The New York Times, the increase could amount to an extra $1.8 billion per year.

Texas has become a popular destination for crypto mining companies, primarily due to the state’s affordable electricity. However, the high energy consumption required for mining is having a significant impact on residents’ power bills. With over 26 million customers on the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), this translates to an additional $69 per annual bill.

Riot Platforms, which operates Texas’ largest crypto mine in Rockdale, consumes as much electricity as the nearest 300,000 homes. A spokesperson for the company challenged the validity of the simulation’s findings, claiming it was based on a “proprietary black box simulation” rather than real-world data.

After China banned cryptocurrency transactions and mining in 2021, many mining companies relocated to rural counties in Texas. These counties, such as Milam County, offered incentives like significant tax breaks to attract crypto mining operations.

Despite the economic benefits for these rural areas, the energy-intensive process of crypto mining has led to increased costs for Texans. The state’s energy grid is already under pressure due to severe weather fluctuations, with arctic weather in February 2021 causing state-wide blackouts and soaring temperatures in July 2022 prompting mining companies to reduce operations to avoid power outages.

ERCOT cited weather and fuel prices as the primary reasons for increased electric bills, but the growing presence of crypto mining operations in the state cannot be ignored as a contributing factor.