Fischer Votes to Protect Consumers from Data Center Energy Costs

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) voted for the Ratepayer Protection Act, a bill introduced by Senator Jon Husted (R-OH), to create a federal standard for data centers to cover the cost of energy generation and transmission and keep local ratepayers from facing increased energy costs. Fischer is a cosponsor of the legislation.

"We've heard concerns from Americans across the country about the impact data centers could have on their energy bills," Fischer said. "Senator Husted has worked hard to address this, but Senate Democrats put politics over a real solution. I was proud to cosponsor and support the bill, and I remain hopeful we can still get it to President Trump's desk."

The Ratepayer Protection Act overwhelmingly passed the U.S. House of Representatives on September 16, 2026, by a vote of 417-3.

The legislationcreates a standard that states can consider when connecting new large-load data centers or hyperscalers with 100 megawatts or more of peak demand at a single facility. This standard is based on three provisions:

• Large-load data centers should cover the full, incremental cost of any generation, transmission, or distribution upgrades they require. If a data center needs a new high-voltage line or a new generating station to meet its load, they alone should be responsible for those costs.
• Contracts between large-load data centers and utilities should include meaningful financial assurances to prevent overbuilding or stranding assets that would otherwise force everyday customers to absorb the cost. Many of the infrastructure upgrades they require last for decades, so communities should not be left paying for infrastructure built for a single customer who later scales back or relocates.
• States retain full flexibility to design the specific standards and agreements that work best for them. The bill does not impose a federal mandate; instead, it provides a thoughtful federal standard for states to consider as they evaluate how best to connect these very large loads.

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