Seven major tech companies, including Amazon, Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, and xAI, have signed the White House’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge, pledging to cover the cost of electricity generation and grid upgrades needed to power new AI data centers. The pledge is intended to prevent AI infrastructure from raising electricity costs for households and address concerns that expanding AI infrastructure could increase power costs. This comes as global energy markets tighten following U.S. strikes on Iran, which controls the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping route for global oil supplies. The companies participating have stated they are investing in new power capacity and grid improvements as AI development increases electricity demand.