Ratepayers generally (households, farmers, ranchers, small businesses, communities)

Gain right to know covered data centers' electricity/water use, infrastructure costs, and rate effects

Current information gap on data center resource use and cost impacts continues

2(a)(1), 2(b)(1)–(2)

Covered data centers (≥50 MW peak demand or ≥100,000 gal/day water withdrawal)

Subject to disclosure, cost-recovery, assessment, and reporting requirements

Not subject to these specific requirements

2(a)(2)

Households, farms, small businesses (rate impact)

Protected from bearing data-center project-driven costs via rates, riders, or surcharges; entitled to refunds with interest for improper charges

Current allocation of data-center-related infrastructure costs among ratepayers continues under existing state/utility processes

2(b)(3)

Schools and hospitals

Explicitly named as protected ratepayers not required to subsidize data center costs; guaranteed no water-priority disadvantage relative to data centers during an emergency

Current water and cost allocation treatment continues

2(b)(3)–(4)

Households, agriculture, existing businesses (water supply)

Independent assessment required to confirm sufficient water remains for these groups, including during drought, before a data center receives a final water-service commitment

No such assessment requirement applies specifically to data centers under this Act

2(b)(4)

Private well owners, rural water systems, farmers, ranchers

Gain rights to monitoring, notice, and compensation if a covered data center harms their water supply; data centers barred from drawing from an already-overdrawn aquifer without an independent assessment showing no further harm

These monitoring/notice/compensation rights and the aquifer-draw restriction do not apply

2(b)(5)

Existing electricity customers

Independent assessment required to confirm reliability is not materially reduced before a data center receives a final electric-service commitment; on-site power generation capacity, fuel source, and emissions must be disclosed

No such assessment requirement applies specifically to data centers under this Act

2(b)(6)

Affected residents and ratepayers (public process)

Entitled to 60 days' notice, a local public meeting, and cost/water/reliability studies published 30 days in advance, in English and Spanish where required; involved public officials must disclose financial interests

No such notice, meeting, or disclosure requirement applies specifically to data center approvals under this Act

2(b)(7)

General public (via public database)

Aggregate data on electricity/water use, costs, public assistance, and emissions must be posted to a searchable public database within 30 days and may not be withheld as trade secrets

No such public database requirement applies specifically to data centers under this Act

2(b)(8)

Data center operators using affiliated entities

Prohibited from using separate entities, meters, tenants, parcels, or project phases to evade the Act; related/affiliated projects treated as one project; material expansion reopens review

No such anti-evasion provision applies

2(b)(9)

Employees who report violations

Protected from retaliation for reporting violations

No such retaliation protection applies specifically under this Act

2(b)(10)

Federal regulators (FERC, DOE, EPA, DOL)

Each agency is directed to issue rules and enforce the Act within its existing jurisdiction (transmission/reliability, energy data, environmental/water quality, worker retaliation)

No new enforcement mandate under this Act applies to these agencies

2(c)

State, Tribal, and local authorities

Retain existing jurisdiction over utility rates, water rights, land use, and permitting, and remain permitted to adopt additional protections

Current jurisdictional arrangement continues unchanged; the bill does not alter it either way

2(c)

Current Law or Condition

What This Bill Changes

No existing federal statute is cited in the bill text establishing a disclosure requirement for data center electricity/water use, infrastructure costs, or public financial assistance.

Sec. 2(b)(1)–(2) would create such disclosure requirements.

No existing federal statute is cited in the bill text prohibiting utilities from recovering data-center-driven infrastructure costs from other ratepayers.

Sec. 2(b)(3) would prohibit such cost-shifting and require a binding cost-recovery agreement and financial security.

No existing federal statute is cited in the bill text requiring an independent pre-commitment water or electric-reliability assessment specific to data centers.

Sec. 2(b)(4)–(6) would require such assessments before final service commitments.

No existing federal statute is cited in the bill text requiring advance public notice or a public meeting specific to data center siting or service decisions.

Sec. 2(b)(7) would require 60 days' notice and a local public meeting.

State, Tribal, and local jurisdiction over utility rates, water rights, land use, and permitting is not altered by this bill.

Sec. 2(c) explicitly states these authorities are retained and preserved, and that stronger state/local protections remain permitted.

No existing federal statute is cited in the bill text addressing the use of separate corporate entities, meters, or project phases to avoid data-center-specific requirements.

Sec. 2(b)(9) would create an anti-evasion provision treating affiliated/related projects as one project.

Metric

If Bill Passes

If Bill Fails / Status Quo Continues

Household Overhead

Sec. 2(b)(3) specifies covered data centers must bear all project-driven costs and may not shift them to ratepayers through rates, riders, or surcharges; improper charges are refunded with interest within 90 days. No dollar figure or rate estimate is specified in the bill text.

Insufficient primary source data — pending official analysis.

Market Stability

Sec. 2(b)(4) specifies an independent assessment must confirm sufficient water remains for existing businesses before a data center receives a final water commitment; Sec. 2(b)(6) requires a similar reliability assessment for electric service. The bill text does not address business licensing or property rights beyond these provisions.

Insufficient primary source data — pending official analysis.

Mobility Check

The bill text does not contain income-eligibility thresholds, benefits-cliff provisions, or means-tested criteria; it applies uniformly to all ratepayers within the defined coverage area regardless of income.

Insufficient primary source data — pending official analysis.

Local Government Impact

Sec. 2(c) specifies that state, Tribal, and local authorities retain existing jurisdiction over utility rates, water rights, land use, and permitting, and are not restricted from adopting additional protections. The bill text does not specify any change to state or county funding levels.

Current funding levels and regulatory authority remain under existing law, as specified in Sec. 2(c).