The United States House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act to prevent technology companies from shifting the energy costs of artificial intelligence data centers onto residential electricity consumers.
Lawmakers approved the legislation in an overwhelming 417 to 3 vote during their final legislative session before the midterm congressional elections. Under the proposed measure, state utility regulators are directed to consider standards that require large-load customers using 100 megawatts or more to pay the full cost of required grid and generation expansions. Sponsors introduced the bill in response to mounting constituent outrage over spiking electricity bills linked directly to the rapid buildout of energy-hungry computing facilities.
House Speaker Mike Johnson endorsed the measure as an essential guardrail to protect families from subsidizing corporate infrastructure while preserving domestic technological competitiveness. The legislation now heads to the Senate, where some lawmakers have raised objections that the bill merely encourages state action rather than establishing enforceable federal mandates.