Malaysia Tests Who Foots the Bill for Data Center Boom

Charging operators for electricity they do not use can be a safeguard for the power system

By: Jonathan Anggiat Pahotan, Jr.

AirTrunk hyperscale data center in Malaysia

A data center that reserves 200 megawatts of electricity but uses only 100 has to pay for the unused half, Malaysia’s investment minister told Parliament on Oct. 15. An operator who does not pay cannot function, Johari Abdul Ghani said. He also said investors should fund any req…