{
  "id": 3678443,
  "title": "Politics with Michelle Grattan: Andrew Charlton’s warning on data centres’ impact on power bills",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/politics-with-michelle-grattan-andrew-charltons-warning-on-data",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-27T05:18:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Conversation AU",
    "slug": "the-conversation-au",
    "url": "https://theconversation.com/politics-with-michelle-grattan-andrew-charltons-warning-on-data-centres-impact-on-power-bills-290538"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "If artificial intelligence (AI) data centres in Australia are powered by coal or gas generation, it could lead to higher household and business power prices, according to Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy Andrew Charlton. During an interview on The Conversation’s politics podcast, Charlton highlighted concerns over the impact of data centres on power bills and resources. He emphasized the government's push for national agreement that new data centres should be powered by renewable energy projects, backed by gas, warning that relying on finite energy sources like coal and gas would increase the cost of energy. However, he accepted that public concerns about data centres are \"very serious\" and vowed to address them to increase public confidence and reduce backlash against them. Charlton also discussed AI's potential to boost productivity and the government's efforts to manage AI risks, including interference in elections, privacy, and critical infrastructure.",
  "summary": "Speaking before the National Cabinet meeting ended, the cabinet secretary warned household bills are likely to rise if data centres are powered by coal or gas.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}