Data Centers

House Bill to Offset Data Centers' Impact on Energy Costs Introduced

Lawmakers say utilities are increasingly passing infrastructure costs to households.

Georgina Mackie

Apr 13, 2026 — 2 min read

Photo of Rep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., during a House Budget Committee hearing on Feb. 13, 2025 by J. Scott Applewhite/AP.

WASHINGTON, April 13, 2026 – A new House bill directs regulators to ensure data center developers cover the cost of the power infrastructure they require.

Rep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., introduced the Power for the People Act in the House on Thursday, joining a parallel Senate effort led in January by Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.

The pair of bills target the growing strain that energy-intensive data centers are placing on the electric grid and on ratepayers as utilities expand infrastructure to meet demand.

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Data Centers Power for the People Act Union of Concerned Scientists Paul Tonko Chris Van Hollen FERC DoE AI

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