A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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
This bill is known as the Make Data Centers Pay Act. It amends the Federal Power Act to protect everyday electricity ratepayers from paying costs related to data centers and high-density computing facilities. The bill defines a covered load as certain data centers or computing facilities using 20 megawatts or more of electricity. It sets rules to ensure that everyday customers do not subsidize the electricity costs of these large facilities. It also requires these facilities to pay their full incremental costs, even if they cancel contracts or stop buying energy early. Finally, it requires these facilities to provide financial assurances before utilities build or upgrade facilities to serve them.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +7
Does this put more rules on large technology companies?
The legislation imposes specific cost-allocation and financial assurance rules on data centers and high-density computing facilities.
- Scored +6
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill protects everyday electricity ratepayers from subsidizing the high energy costs of data centers and high-density computing facilities.
- Scored +5
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill prevents low-income households from having to subsidize the immense power demands of large data centers.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection from Subsidies: Under Section 2 adding Section 224(b)(1), no portion of the incremental cost to serve a covered load may be allocated to or recovered in the rates of any customer other than a covered load, which ensures everyday people do not foot the bill for data center energy use.
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Potential Rebates: Under Section 2 adding Section 224(b)(2), the Commission or a State is permitted to recover amounts in excess of incremental costs from covered loads and credit those amounts to other customers as a rebate or a rate reduction, which could lower utility bills for regular citizens.
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Guaranteed Cost Recovery on Exit: Under Section 2 adding Section 224(b)(3), rates must be designed to recover full incremental costs from a covered load even if the covered load terminates its contract or stops purchasing energy early, protecting ratepayers from being left holding the bag.
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Upfront Financial Assurances: Under Section 2 adding Section 224(b)(4), electric utilities must require covered loads to provide financial assurances or contributions sufficient to cover the cost of necessary generation, transmission, or distribution facilities or upgrades before construction begins, placing the financial risk on the data centers instead of the public.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Prospective Only Application: Under Section 2 adding Section 224(d)(1), the ratepayer protections only apply to covered loads that interconnect on or after the date of enactment, meaning existing arrangements approved before enactment remain in effect under Section 224(d)(2), offering no immediate relief from ongoing legacy arrangements for everyday ratepayers.
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 households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill prevents low-income households from having to subsidize the immense power demands of large data centers. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Everyday middle-class families are shielded from absorbing utility rate increases driven by new data center construction. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Protecting utility ratepayers from data center cost shifts helps seniors living on fixed incomes save on electricity bills. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Rural ratepayers who share grids with large new computing facilities are shielded from unfair cost allocations. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Urban and suburban ratepayers are protected from absorbing the massive electrical infrastructure costs of local data centers.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more rules on large technology companies? — The legislation imposes specific cost-allocation and financial assurance rules on data centers and high-density computing facilities.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill protects everyday electricity ratepayers from subsidizing the high energy costs of data centers and high-density computing facilities.
- 10/13/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Introduced in House