Protecting Ratepayers Act

This bill, known as the "Protecting Ratepayers Act," introduces strict requirements for data centers, compelling both new and existing facilities with a power demand of 5 megawatts or more to operate entirely independent of public utility grids. Within 180 days of the act's enactment, private companies owning or operating these data centers must ensure all energy, including backup power, comes from off-grid sources like captive power plants or on-site generation, completely separate from the electric grid. Similarly, these data centers must derive all water, including backup supplies, from on-site or other non-public water sources , eliminating reliance on public water systems. These provisions apply to any private entity that owns, operates, or plans to operate a qualifying data center within five years. Furthermore, the bill grants the President's "Ratepayer Protection Pledge" proclamation, issued on March 9, 2026, the full force and effect of law.