Tuberville Supports Legislation to Protect Alabamians From Footing the Bill for New Data Centers

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) in cosponsoring the Ratepayer Protection Act to ensure American families and small businesses aren't left paying for the energy infrastructure needed to support new data centers. Companion legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday.

"Data centers can be game changers for communities all across my state of Alabama," said Senator Tuberville."I understand why many Alabamians have concerns about these facilities coming to their neighborhoods and increasing energy costs. That's why I cosponsored the Ratepayer Protection Act to make sure Alabamians aren't left footing the bill for any new data centers. We are going to continue holding big tech accountable to make sure that if they want to build a data center in Alabama, they do it the right way."

The Ratepayer Protection Act would require states to consider establishing standards for states and Public Utility Commissions when connecting large electricity users-such as data centers-to the grid. It ensures those customers, not families or small businesses, pay for the power generation, transmission lines and other infrastructure needed to serve their facilities. Without those protections, utilities can shift those costs onto ratepayers through higher monthly electricity bills.

In March 2026, President Donald Trump held a roundtable at the White House focused on lowering energy costs near new data centers. During the event, President Trump signed the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, with major technology companies committing to cover the full cost of the energy and infrastructure needed for new data centers instead of shifting those costs onto consumers. The Ratepayer Protection Act would codify key elements of that pledge.

Reps. Gabe Evans (R-CO) and Kathy Castor (D-FL) introduced the companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.

BACKGROUND:

If enacted, the bill would propose standards that state regulators could enforce when considering integrating new large-load customers with a demand of 100 megawatts or more onto the grid. Those recommendations include:

• Recovery of full, incremental cost of upgrades by the large-load customer over a long period of time through a special rate charge or other agreements. This protects utilities and their ratepayers from being left responsible for upgrade costs associated with a large-load customer, even if that customer later reduces operations or leaves the system entirely.
• Financial assurances requiring the large load customer to pay for any generation, transmission or other infrastructure necessary to serve their load, protecting utilities and ratepayers from that financial burden. This ensures large-load customers are responsible for the fixed costs associated with serving their demand rather than passing those costs on to families and businesses through higher monthly electricity bills.

Full text of the bill is available here.

Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans' Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

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