Ratepayer Bill of Rights Act of 2026
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To President
- Became Law
Overview
The Ratepayer Bill of Rights Act of 2026 aims to increase transparency and accountability regarding large data centers’ impact on electricity and water resources. It grants ratepayers several rights, including the right to know data center’s resource usage, infrastructure costs, and any public assistance received. The act also establishes requirements for data centers to pay their own costs, ensure sufficient water availability for communities, and provide advance notice and public input before project approvals. Finally, it establishes a process for enforcement and penalties for non-compliance.
Key provisions
- Data centers with high electricity demand (50+ megawatts) or water withdrawal (100,000+ gallons/day) are subject to disclosure requirements.
- Ratepayers have the right to know projected and actual electricity and water use, sources, and wastewater discharge.
- Data centers must provide cost, water, and reliability assessments before receiving service commitments.
- Data centers must pay all project-driven costs and post financial security.
- Communities must be notified and have a public meeting before final decisions regarding data center projects.
- Independent assessments are required to ensure sufficient water availability and prevent harm to rural water supplies.
- Data centers cannot use separate entities or loopholes to evade disclosure requirements.
- Federal and state regulators can audit compliance, order refunds, and assess penalties for violations.
Who is affected
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Sponsors
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