House Passes AI Data Center Cost Bill

The U.S. House passed the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act by a 417-3 vote, aiming to prevent households and small businesses from subsidizing electricity infrastructure built for large AI data centers. The bill would direct state utility regulators to consider requiring facilities using at least 100 megawatts to cover the full incremental costs of new generation, transmission and distribution upgrades, while providing financial assurances if operators scale back or leave. States would retain broad discretion over whether to adopt the standards. Supporters call the measure an initial safeguard against rising utility bills as AI-driven electricity demand grows, while critics seek stronger measures, including a moratorium and broader environmental protections. The Senate is considering whether to advance a companion measure, as data-center costs become a prominent issue ahead of the 2026 elections.