As electricity and water bills continue to rise, older Oklahomans are sending a clear warning to state leaders: don’t shift the soaring costs of powering large data centers onto residential customers.

An overwhelming 92% of Oklahomans age 50 plus say elected officials should ensure residential customers do not pay for the costs of serving new large data centers, according to a new AARP survey. When asked who should foot the bill, 86% say data center companies themselves should pay, not homeowners on fixed or limited incomes.

“Oklahomans shouldn’t have to choose between keeping the lights on and putting food on the table for the sake of data centers,” said AARP Oklahoma State Director Sean Voskuhl. “People are already cutting back on groceries and medicine just to pay rising utility bills. Lawmakers must act now to protect residential customers from picking up the tab for these massive data centers.”