The House voted on legislation designed to protect consumers from shouldering the energy and infrastructure costs generated by the rapid expansion of data centers across the country.
The Ratepayer Protection Act, H.R. 9340, would direct states to consider adopting a federal standard requiring data centers to pay the full cost of new generation and transmission upgrades needed to serve their operations.
The bipartisan bill was introduced by Reps. Gabe Evans (R-CO) and Kathy Castor (D-FL), both of whom face competitive reelections this fall amid intense voter scrutiny over energy costs.
The legislation has attracted 41 co-sponsors and cleared the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously earlier this year, reflecting broad support for action on the issue.
Data centers have emerged as one of the most contentious issues heading into the 2026 midterm elections, with voters in affected communities expressing anxiety over rising utility bills and diminished quality of life.
Republicans and Democrats alike have faced constituent pressure from voters worried about what a new data center in their neighborhood means for property values, local infrastructure, and monthly electricity costs.
GOP leaders opted to bring the bill to the floor amid mounting political pressure to address the issue before the November midterms, signaling that the energy cost debate has reached a critical threshold.
Rep. Evans stated: “This bill coming to the House Floor proves that House Republicans are responding to the needs of the American people,” adding that “as the United States competes to win the global AI race and outcompete adversaries like Communist China, we must ensure that growth does not come at the expense of hardworking families.”
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported this week that U.S. electricity consumption is expected to reach record levels in both 2026 and 2027, with data centers identified as a key driver of surging power demand.
Power demand is projected to climb from 4,195 billion kilowatt-hours in 2025 to 4,270 billion kilowatt-hours in 2026 and 4,349 billion kilowatt-hours in 2027, underscoring the urgency of the legislation.
Despite passing the House, the bill faces a difficult road to President Trump’s desk, with the Senate having just three weeks remaining before it recesses ahead of the November election.
Similar legislation sponsored by Sen. John Husted (R-OH) has yet to advance in the Senate, casting doubt on whether a final bill can reach the president before the midterms.
