United StatesRegulators would consider making large data centers pay for upgrades
If enacted, the proposal would require utility regulators to consider a standard making large data centers pay for the power upgrades needed to serve them.
What it does
If adopted by the state or utility, rates for covered large data centers would make them pay the full added cost of power upgrades needed to serve them, even if they later stop buying power.
Regulators and utilities without state rate regulation would have to review the proposed large-customer cost standard and decide whether to adopt it, unless the state or utility had already taken one of the listed steps.
Argument forRequiring large data centers to cover needed power upgrades could help keep other electric customers from paying those costs if a project stops buying power.
Argument againstLarge data center operators might face substantial upfront costs or financial commitments before utilities build the upgrades needed to serve them.
More detail
A utility would have to set rates so a covered large-load customer pays the full added cost of power upgrades needed to serve it. This applies to a non-residential customer requesting or entering a power contract on or after enactment for data storage or computing facilities with combined peak demand of at least 100 megawatts at one site or campus. The customer must provide financial assurance or contribute toward an upgrade before the utility makes it. The definition covers customers requesting or entering a power contract on or after enactment of this standard.
State utility regulators and utilities without state rate regulation would have to consider the proposed standard and make a decision about it. The review applies to each state-regulated electric utility and each utility that is not regulated by a state. These review duties would not apply to a utility if, before enactment, the state had adopted this or a comparable standard, a regulator or utility had held a proceeding on it, or the state legislature had voted on it. They would have to begin review or set a hearing date within one year after enactment, then finish and decide within two years.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To President
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 30Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S5199)Latest
- Vote recorded On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed H.R. 9340. Result: Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Rejected.Senate
- Sep 30Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 57 - 43. Record Vote Number: 254.
- Sep 30Motion to proceed to consideration of measure withdrawn in Senate. (CR S5199)
- Sep 29Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate.
- Sep 28Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S5065)
- Sep 28Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S5065)
- Sep 24Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 684.
- Sep 23Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
- Sep 17Received in the Senate.
- Sep 16Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5958-5959)
- Vote recorded On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended. Result: Passed.House
- Sep 16Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 417 - 3 (Roll no. 312). (text: CR H5656-5657)Passed House
- Sep 16Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Sep 15Mr. Guthrie moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Sep 15Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5656-5661)
- Sep 15DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 9340.
- Sep 15At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
- Sep 10Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-814.
- Sep 10Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 713.
- Jul 21Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Jul 21Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 52 - 0.
- Jul 20Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Jun 24Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Jun 24Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
- Jun 18Introduced in House
- Jun 18Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Jun 18Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.Introduced
- Sep 30Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S5199)Latest
Consumer ProtectionEconomy & JobsTechnology