Oklahoma Enacts Law Shielding Ratepayers From Data Center Costs
What's documented Official Oklahoma House of Representatives release on the ceremonial bill signing, with on-record quotes from the governor and both bill authors.
Oklahoma lawmakers and Gov. Kevin Stitt held a ceremonial signing of House Bill 2992, the Data Center Customer Ratepayer Protection Act, which already took effect July 1. The law protects existing utility customers from infrastructure costs created by large-scale energy users, including data centers, crypto mining and AI facilities, and requires developers to notify neighboring landowners and regulators within 60 days of acquiring project land.
- HB2992 took effect July 1 and shields existing Oklahoma utility customers from infrastructure costs created by data centers, crypto mining operations and AI facilities.
- Developers must notify adjoining landowners, county commissioners and the Oklahoma Corporation Commission within 60 days of acquiring land for a qualifying project.
- A companion law, SB259 (the Groundwater Modernization Act), takes effect Nov. 1 and requires data centers seeking a groundwater permit to use low-consumptive cooling technology such as closed-loop or dielectric immersion systems.
- Gov. Stitt originally signed both bills into law in May (HB2992 on May 11, SB259 on May 20); Aug. 6 was a ceremonial signing event.