A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The bill is known as the Energy Cost Fairness and Reliability Act of 2026. It requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue final rules regarding the interconnection of large load facilities, such as data centers, to the interstate transmission system. The legislation establishes a formal load interconnection queue system and sets out specific cost responsibilities for network upgrades. It also directs the Department of Energy to collect data from data center owners and establish an artificial intelligence testbed at a National Laboratory. Additionally, the bill sets priority criteria for queue processing based on battery backup, prevailing wages, and labor peace agreements. Finally, it ensures that state authorities retain jurisdiction over retail electricity rates.
Yes· 3 of 18
- Scored +6
Does this put more rules on large technology companies?
The bill imposes specific interconnection rules, cost responsibilities, and data collection requirements on large data center facilities.
- Scored +6
Does this put more money into scientific research?
The legislation directs the Department of Energy to establish a data-center-scale artificial intelligence testbed at a National Laboratory.
- Scored +5
Would union members be better off under this?
Queue prioritization for projects utilizing prevailing wages and registered apprenticeship programs directly benefits union workers.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill exempts confidential business information submitted by data center owners from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.
- Scored -2
Would business owners be better off under this?
Large load customers and data center developers face strict financial requirements, including paying 100 percent of interconnection and study costs.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection of Ratepayer Costs: Section 3(d)(1) mandates that large load customers must pay 100 percent of the costs for network upgrades assigned through interconnection studies, and prohibits these costs from being recovered from other transmission customers or credited against future retail service charges. This protects everyday people from footing the bill for expensive grid upgrades driven by data centers.
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Grid Reliability and Demand Flexibility: Section 3(b)(4) requires large load customers to be technically capable of exercising demand flexibility and curtailability, and to enter into a binding agreement to reduce or shift electrical demand when requested. This ensures that large facilities can scale back power usage during peak times to help maintain overall grid reliability for the public.
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Support for Good-Paying Jobs: Section 3(b)(5)(A)(ii) provides queue prioritization for large load customers that guarantee laborers and mechanics are paid prevailing wages and that contractors use registered apprenticeship programs during construction. This directly benefits workers by encouraging fair wages and training opportunities.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Exemption from Public Disclosure: Section 3(i)(2) exempts confidential business information submitted by data center owners to the Secretary of Energy from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act and state or local open records laws. This lack of transparency could make it difficult for the public and local communities to access information about data center resource consumption and environmental impacts.
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Potential Financial Burden on Facilities: Section 3(b)(1) and Section 3(d)(1) require large load customers to pay 100 percent of interconnection study costs and nonrefundable payments for network upgrades. While protecting residential ratepayers, these heavy upfront financial burdens might slow down domestic manufacturing, technology growth, or the onshoring of industries if compliance costs become too prohibitive for developers.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would union members be better off under this? — Queue prioritization for projects utilizing prevailing wages and registered apprenticeship programs directly benefits union workers. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Preventing large load interconnection costs from being shifted to residential customers protects low-income households from utility rate hikes. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Safeguarding transmission customers from data center upgrade expenses protects middle-class family budgets. Would retired people be better off under this? — Shielding everyday utility customers from data center cost-shifting benefits retirees living on fixed incomes. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Protecting ratepayers from absorbing the high costs of grid upgrades helps shield fixed-income seniors from surging electricity bills. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Enhanced grid reliability and structured integration of large facilities protect rural electric cooperatives and local grids. Would students be better off under this? — Academic researchers gain collaboration opportunities through the new artificial intelligence testbed at a National Laboratory. Would business owners be better off under this? — Large load customers and data center developers face strict financial requirements, including paying 100 percent of interconnection and study costs.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more rules on large technology companies? — The bill imposes specific interconnection rules, cost responsibilities, and data collection requirements on large data center facilities. Does this put more money into scientific research? — The legislation directs the Department of Energy to establish a data-center-scale artificial intelligence testbed at a National Laboratory.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise? — The bill provides queue prioritization for projects utilizing labor peace agreements and registered apprenticeship programs. Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill establishes programs and AI testbeds that encourage technology sector development and infrastructure construction. Is this likely to grow the economy? — The legislation supports the orderly growth of energy infrastructure necessary for advancing artificial intelligence and domestic manufacturing.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power? — The legislation supports the integration of new generating resources, distributed energy resources, and battery energy storage systems. Does this invest in rural communities? — Grid infrastructure updates and regional load forecasting improvements can benefit rural communities hosting energy facilities.
- Healthcare
- Does this put more money into medical research? — The bill directs the establishment of an artificial intelligence testbed at a National Laboratory to advance technology research.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — Advanced computing and AI testbed initiatives contribute broadly to national technological capacity and security. Does this strengthen ties with allied countries? — Maintaining leadership in artificial intelligence and energy infrastructure supports broader strategic and technological competitiveness.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill explicitly preserves state authority to regulate retail electricity rates and terms of service. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill exempts confidential business information submitted by data center owners from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.
- 9/24/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Daniel GoldmanDemocrat · New York