H.R. 9340 · 119th Congress · Energy
Ratepayer Protection Act
Requires state utility regulators to consider making large data centers pay full costs of electric infrastructure upgrades. AI-read
What it does
The bill requires state utility regulators and nonregulated utilities to consider implementing a standard to hold certain large-load customers responsible for the costs associated with any generation, transmission, or distribution upgrade of electric service necessary to serve such customers. A large-load customer means a non-residential electric consumer that enters, or requests to enter, an agreement concerning the sale of electric energy primarily to operate information technology infrastructure and related systems pertaining to data storage and computational applications and services (e.g., data centers) that have a peak electric demand of 100 megawatts or more at a single site or campus.
Specifically, the bill requires states to consider implementing a federal standard for large-load customers. The standard must require rates charged by electric utilities for providing electric service to a large-load customer to be designed to recover from the large-load customer the full, incremental cost of any generation, transmission, or distribution upgrade necessary to serve such customer. This rate must include the costs that would be incurred if the large-load customer terminates an agreement with the electric utility pertaining to the sale of electric energy or otherwise ceases the purchase of energy from the electric utility.
Under the standard, an electric utility must require the large-load customer to provide to the utility financial assurances or contributions to cover the cost of any generation, transmission, or distribution upgrade that is necessary to serve the load of a large-load customer before the utility makes any generation, transmission, or distribution upgrade.
Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Sep 10, 2026 (Reported to House). CRS summarizes bills impartially; it does not take positions.
Roll call votes
| Date | Question | Party split (yea) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 16, 2026 House roll 672 |
On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as AmendedRatepayer Protection Act | D 206–3 · R 210–0 · I 1–0 |
Passed 417–3 |
| Sep 30, 2026 Senate roll 913 |
On Cloture on the Motion to ProceedA bill to amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to establish a Federal standard relating to the recovery of the full, incremental costs of upgrades that serve large-load customers, and for other purposes. | D 4–41 · R 53–0 · I 0–2 |
Failed 57–43 |
What members said about it
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Chairwoman McClain Condemns Senate Democrats’ Vote Against Ratepayer Protection Act
House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) released the following statement after Senate Democrats blocked H.R. 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act, from advancing.
“Families should not be forced to subsidize massive new power demands they did not create.”
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Cortez Masto Statement on Vote Against H.R. 9340
Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after her vote against H.R. 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act, led in the Senate by Jon Husted (R-Ohio).
“In the Senate, there are a number of bills to protect American families from data center-related energy cost spikes, including Senator Heinrich’s GRID Savings Act, which I support. Senator Husted could have joined Democrats on legislation with real teeth that would force data centers to pay for grid upgrades and ensure…”
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Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) delivered bipartisan wins for New Hampshire last week in a slate of bipartisan bills that passed the U.S. House.
“Every Granite Stater deserves access to safe, reliable drinking water.”
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Ricketts Supports Ratepayer Protection Act
U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) announced his support for the Ratepayer Protection Act.
“Nebraskans should not be responsible for footing the bill of data centers.”
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Yesterday, with Rep. Chris Smith’s (R-Manchester) strong support and vote, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Ratepayer Protection Act (HR 9340)—by a margin of 417-3—to protect hard-working Americans from…
“Protecting families and communities from increased energy costs is paramount—especially after years of skyrocketing energy costs driven by Joe Biden’s ‘Green New Scam,’”
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Ciscomani Votes to Keep Data Center Costs Off Arizonans’ Utility Bills
Representative Juan Ciscomani voted in favor of the bipartisan H.R. 9340 Ratepayer Protection Act, which passed the House in a vote of 417 to 3.
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Cline Votes For Legislation to Protect Local Ratepayers from Costs of Data Centers
Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act, of which Congressman Cline is a cosponsor.
“Working families, small businesses, and farmers should not have to shoulder the cost of the increasingly massive demand from data centers on our power grid.”
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James: Families should not have to pay higher electric rates due to data centers
Rep. John James voted on Wednesday for legislation to help ensure that companies profiting from data centers are the ones paying the cost of the electric grid upgrades needed to power them.
“Families should not have to pay higher electricity prices due to data centers.”
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On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) voted in favor of the Ratepayer Protection Act, legislation which codifies a Trump administration executive action requiring that the companies building data centers are the ones paying for the…
“Pennsylvania families shouldn't be footing the bill to power data centers.”
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Letlow Votes for Ratepayer Protection Act
The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act, aimed at shielding consumers from any increased electricity costs associated with data centers or other large-load customers.
“The Ratepayer Protection Act advances the basic principle that Americans should not pay the cost for increased electricity used by data centers.”
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Late Wednesday evening, Congressman Jimmy Patronis (R-FL) voted to advance H.R. 9340 the Ratepayer Protection Act to ensure hardworking Americans aren’t footing the bill for AI data centers.
“If Big Tech wants to build a massive data center and use massive amounts of electricity, they should pay for the power and infrastructure they need, not hardworking families and small businesses. I don’t want families in Northwest Florida footing the bill for someone else’s investment opportunity.”
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Rep. Simpson Supports Bill to Protect Ratepayers from Data Center Costs
Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson supported H.R. 9340 – the Ratepayer Protection Act.
“States like Idaho are looking at ways to regulate data centers and prevent them from raising energy costs for American families.”
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Vindman Votes to Protect Ratepayers From Data Center Grid Upgrade Costs
Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) yesterday voted in favor of H.R. 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act, legislation aimed at protecting families and businesses from being saddled with the costs of infrastructure upgrades needed to…
“It is past time for data centers to pay their fair share. Right now, Virginia families and businesses are unfairly footing the bill for massive infrastructure investments needed to power large data centers. That is unacceptable.”
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House Passes Balderson Bill to Lower Energy Costs for Ohioans
The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the bipartisan Load Forecasting Enhancement Act (H.R. 9332), led by Congressman Troy Balderson (OH-12), chairman of the House Energy Action Team (HEAT).
“To protect Americans from higher electric bills and make sure our grid can keep up with rising demand, we need to plan ahead.”
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Rep. Crank Votes to Protect Ratepayers from Higher Utility Rates
Today, Representative Jeff Crank (CO-05) voted in favor of H.R. 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act.
“I am proud to have cosponsored the Ratepayer Protection Act, led by fellow Coloradan Representative Gabe Evans.”
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Fitzpatrick-Led Effort to Shield Ratepayers from Data Center Costs Passes House
Bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act Passes 417–3, advancing Fitzpatrick’s broader push to make data center growth accountable to families and communities WASHINGTON, D.C. — After months of pushing for stronger protections around rapidly…
“For months, I’ve been working with residents, local leaders, and colleagues on both sides of the aisle to put communities back at the center of this conversation.”
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Ratepayer Protection Act Passes House with Strong Bipartisan Support
Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, and Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08), applauded House…
“When done responsibly, data center development leads to longer term investments and broader infrastructure improvements in the communities where they’re built. The Ratepayer Protection Act helps to safeguard these benefits by ensuring that the companies who are building data centers—and not American families and small…”
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Congressman Rogers Votes to Protect Ratepayers, Implement Guardrails for Data Centers
U.S. Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers (KY-05) voted for the Ratepayer Protection Act (H.R. 9340) to ensure that data centers pay their own way for the electricity necessary to power them, not hardworking Americans in rural communities.
“With multiple data center proposals in Southern and Eastern Kentucky, we need proper guardrails in place to make sure no costs are added to the skyrocketing utility bills for families and businesses in our rural region.”
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9/16/26… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) released the following statement after H.R. 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act, bipartisan legislation to ensure large electricity customers pay the costs associated with the additional strain…
“New York families and businesses already face some of the highest electricity costs in the country. As we work to bring new investment and jobs to New York, we cannot ask families and small businesses to foot the bill for the massive infrastructure costs created by new data centers and other energy-intensive…”
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Griffith Votes to Protect Ninth District Communities from Footing Bill for Data Centers
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 9340 – the Ratepayer Protection Act.
“With this bill, data centers are on notice. Under the watch of this Congress, I will continue to promote responsible federal guardrails while supporting local autonomy over data centers.”
Latest action
Sep 30, 2026 · Motion to proceed to consideration of measure withdrawn in Senate. (CR S5199)