The House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a marathon markup this week with a slate of energy and environment bills, including a high-profile bipartisan measure aimed at shielding utility customers from the costs of powering data centers.
Lawmakers are expected to vote on the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act, H.R. 9340, during a full committee markup Monday that will likely stretch into Tuesday. Interest for the bill appears to be spreading on Capitol Hill.
“I agree with constituents who have raised concerns about electricity affordability: hardworking Americans shouldn’t foot the bill for power going to data centers,” Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) said in a statement. “The Ratepayer Protection Act ensures that the companies building and using data centers pay the full cost of connecting them to the grid.”
The legislation — sponsored by Reps. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.) and Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) — would require states to consider adopting a federal standard directing large electricity customers to pay the full cost of new generation and transmission upgrades needed to serve them.
