House passes data center bill aimed at protecting ratepayers

The U.S. House passed the Ratepayer Protection Act, a bipartisan bill designed to keep the costs of data centerrelated energy and grid upgrades from being shifted to local electricity customers. The measure cleared the chamber in a 4173 vote and now moves to the Senate. The bill would require large data centers using 100 megawatts or more to cover the added costs of generation, transmission, and distribution upgrades needed to serve them. It would also require financial assurances in case a project is canceled or relocated, so communities are not left paying for unused infrastructure. Supporters in both parties say the proposal responds to growing concerns about affordability, energy demand, and who should bear the expense of the rapid expansion in data centers tied to artificial intelligence. Its fate in the Senate remains uncertain.