U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, SoftBank Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Masayoshi Son, and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick pose for a photo with workers and local leaders after a press conference at the Portsmouth location in Piketon, Ohio, Friday, March 20, 2026. SoftBank Group Corp. is working to realize a large-scale infrastructure project centered on data centers in Ohio, and CEO Masayoshi Son said the company will invest $500 billion. Single campus.
Brian Kaiser | Bloomberg | Getty Images
The House of Representatives on Wednesday will begin considering a bill that would force technology companies to use artificial intelligence to contribute to the power grid, as voters across the country express frustration with data centers that drive up utility costs.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Energy Subcommittee will consider and vote on the Ratepayer Protection Act. The bill would require state power companies to consider establishing a “heavy load standard” that would require data center builders to pay for grid upgrades needed to provide power. The bill would codify part of the White House’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge.
The bill is one of Congress’ first attempts to force tech companies to cover data centers’ massive power needs. With the midterm elections just a few months away, voters will decide whether to strip President Donald Trump and the Republican Party of complete control of Washington. Amazon, google, meta, microsoft and space x xAI is one of the largest builders and operators of data centers.
“The benefits of these innovations will be felt by all of society, but families and small businesses across the country should not be burdened with the cost of this new development,” said House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.). “The Ratepayer Protection Act is a bipartisan effort that will ensure grid upgrades are paid for in proportion to demand.”
The bill is sponsored by Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.) and Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.).
“Colorado’s families, farmers, and small businesses should not be forced to bear the additional costs of generating electricity from these developments,” Evans said.
Castor said the bill would “protect consumers by ensuring these data centers pay for the necessary energy and grid upgrades, so hard-working families and local businesses can avoid paying additional fees.”
The bill aims to help tech companies that build data centers pay for new power generation, transmission lines and other grid-related upgrades to serve heavy-duty customers. Voters have recently expressed dissatisfaction with data centers, particularly that they drive up electricity bills.
Many large tech companies have signed President Trump’s pledge, indicating they are not opposed to paying for new power generation to power AI.
Still, there is still a long way to go before this bill becomes law.
It must be approved by the entire Energy and Commerce Committee, the House of Representatives, and the Senate before it can reach Mr. Trump’s desk.
