Major technology companies are returning to the White House this week at the invitation of the administration to sign a high-profile pledge on managing the rising electricity costs tied to artificial intelligence data centre expansion.

The forthcoming event, scheduled for March 4, will see executives from Amazon, Google, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, xAI, Oracle and OpenAI commit to a compact aimed at ensuring that the costs associated with powering large AI data centres do not fall on ordinary utility customers.

President Donald Trump first introduced the concept during his State of the Union address, framing the initiative as the “Rate Payer Protection Pledge.” He told a joint session of Congress that technology firms must build, buy or provide for their own power capacity so that households and small businesses do not see their electric bills rise due to energy-hungry AI infrastructure.

Trump said this approach would help protect consumers while supporting continued U.S. leadership in innovation and artificial intelligence deployment.

The administration’s effort responds to concerns that expanding data centre electricity demand could strain the U.S. power grid and contribute to higher prices for utility customers.

Industry executives have been engaged in discussions with federal officials for months about how to balance rapid AI growth with grid stability and affordability.

Under the principles of the pledge, companies would commit to covering the full cost of new power generation needed to support their facilities and, where necessary, contribute to upgrades to grid infrastructure.

White House officials say the pact remains voluntary but reflects growing collaboration between government and industry.

Supporters contend that requiring technology firms to shoulder the cost of their own energy consumption will protect consumers from bearing the burden of infrastructure built to support emerging technologies.

Critics have raised questions about enforcement and how the pledge will translate into actual project delivery, but the event is being framed by proponents as a landmark step in aligning corporate responsibility with public interest.

The meeting also underscores the administration’s broader focus on energy policy, grid resilience and maintaining American competitiveness in advanced technologies.

With artificial intelligence now central to national economic strategy, ensuring reliable and affordable power networks is seen as critical to both technological progress and consumer protection.

As the White House prepares to welcome Big Tech leaders for the signature event, investors, utilities and policymakers are watching closely for commitments that could shape the future landscape of data centre deployment and energy markets.