A loss of 0.83 gigawatts of hydroelectric capacity will force utilities to find replacement power sources, likely turning to natural gas or renewable energy to fill the gap. This shift could raise electricity costs for residential and industrial customers across Nevada, California, and Arizona. The region’s data centers — more than 500 facilities that already operate on thin power margins during peak summer demand — will feel the impact most directly, facing higher prices and potential supply constraints in coming years. The Southern Nevada Water Authority has acknowledged that the drought ann