Ratepayer Protection Act advances to make 100MW+ data centers pay for grid upgrades

The Ratepayer Protection Act passed a critical milestone on September 16, winning 417 votes against just three. The measure would require medium and large data-center campuses with peak demand of 100MW+ to cover the cost of grid upgrades.

Those costs could include new electricity-generation capacity, along with transmission and distribution infrastructure. Under the proposed rules, operators would still have to pay even if a project is abandoned or stops buying power from the grid.

The measure would not automatically apply nationwide. State regulators would have to consider adopting the rules locally, meaning the impact could vary by region.

TechRadar’s Craig Hale reported that the vote reflects growing political scrutiny of data centers, as US citizens raise concerns about utility bills ahead of the midterm elections. The proposal follows the White House’s voluntary Ratepayer Protection Pledge, under which President Trump urged major hyperscalers to “build, bring, or buy” the electricity and generation resources they need.

Unlike the pledge, the bill would create a legal requirement. Public Citizen has argued that it does not address a range of other consumer and community impacts. Energy Program director Tyson Slocum made that criticism in comments cited via Reuters.