House GOP Leadership Tees Up Pre-Election Vote on Data Center Power Bill
What's documented Axios scoop attributed to House Republican leadership plans, confirming the bill's July 52-0 committee vote and its provisions.
House Republican leadership will bring the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act to the floor next week under suspension, aiming to show voters action on electricity bills ahead of the midterms. The bill, which cleared the House Energy and Commerce Committee 52-0 in July, would require state utility regulators to consider rules making data centers cover the cost of new power generation rather than passing it to households. Utilities earn a regulated return on the infrastructure they build for large loads, so a federal push to reclassify who pays for that buildout touches the same cost question driving state-level fights.
- Ratepayer Protection Act advanced out of House Energy and Commerce Committee 52-0 in July after leadership sat on a floor vote for months.
- Bill directs state utility regulators to weigh rules requiring data centers to cover new generation costs instead of residential ratepayers.
- Timing tied to the midterms: Gallup found 70% of Americans oppose data center construction in their area, and Democrats have targeted GOP incumbents over rising electric bills.
- Vote comes despite President Trump publicly defending data center development and calling opposed communities "backwards and poor."