Senate Democrats Block Data Center Energy-Cost Bill In 57-43 Vote
On September 30, 2026, Senate Democrats blocked an effort to advance the Ratepayer Protection Act, voting 57-43 to kill the bill that would have shifted data-center costs away from ratepayers.[1]
Four Senate Democrats — Maggie Hassan, Amy Klobuchar, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock — joined Republicans in supporting the measure.[1] Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called it a voluntary, "toothless" messaging measure and urged Congress to craft mandatory guardrails on data centers.[1]
The House had approved the bill by a 417-3 vote earlier in September 2026.[1] The Ratepayer Protection Act would have required state utility regulators only to consider, not to mandate, standards that place data center infrastructure costs on companies instead of on ratepayers.[1]
The vote leaves the House-passed bill stalled in the Senate while lawmakers debate whether to impose mandatory guardrails on data centers.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On September 30, 2026, the Senate voted 57-43 against advancing the Ratepayer Protection Act.
- The House previously passed the bill by a 417-3 vote earlier in September 2026.
- The bill would have required state utility regulators only to consider, not mandate, standards that put data center infrastructure costs on companies instead of ratepayers.
- Four Senate Democrats — Maggie Hassan, Amy Klobuchar, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock — broke with their party to support the bill.
- Sen. Chuck Schumer labeled the bill a voluntary, "toothless" messaging measure and called for mandatory guardrails on data centers.
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