Fitzpatrick-Led Effort to Shield Ratepayers from Data Center Costs Passes House

Bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act Passes 417–3, advancing Fitzpatrick’s broader push to make data center growth accountable to families and communities WASHINGTON, D.C. — After months of pushing for stronger protections around rapidly expanding data center development, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) marked a major bipartisan breakthrough in that effort as the House passed the Ratepayer Protection Act (H.R. 9340) by an overwhelming 417–3 vote . The legislation, cosponsored by Fitzpatrick, would help ensure that the extraordinary energy infrastructure costs driven by large-scale data center development are borne by the companies creating that demand—not shifted onto families and small businesses through higher utility bills. The Ratepayer Protection Act would require state public utility commissions to consider standards ensuring large-load data centers cover the incremental costs of the generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure needed to serve them, while preserving states’ authority over their electricity markets. “For months, I’ve been working with residents, local leaders, and colleagues on both sides of the aisle to put communities back at the center of this conversation,” said Fitzpatrick. “Families across Bucks and Montgomery Counties should not be asked to pay higher electric bills to cover the massive infrastructure costs created by some of the largest companies in the world. Today’s vote moves us closer to putting that principle into practice. America can lead in innovation without shifting the cost of that growth onto working families, seniors, and small businesses. Growth should strengthen our communities, not come at their expense. Protect our families, respect our communities, and make sure development happens responsibly—that is the standard we are fighting for.” BACKGROUND House passage of the Ratepayer Protection Act advances Fitzpatrick’s broader bipartisan effort to establish clear rules for responsible data center growth—protecting families and small businesses, preserving local control, and strengthening transparency and accountability. As development accelerates across Pennsylvania and the country, Fitzpatrick has worked with residents and local leaders across Bucks and Montgomery Counties to address concerns surrounding utility costs, grid reliability, water and energy use, infrastructure, environmental impacts, and quality of life. That effort is grounded in three principles: local control, state guardrails, and federal accountability. Communities should have a meaningful voice over what is built and where. States should maintain strong consumer and environmental protections. And the federal government should address challenges that cross local boundaries, including grid reliability, energy markets, ratepayer protections, and national transparency standards. Fitzpatrick is advancing that framework on several fronts. The Ratepayer Protection Act addresses who pays , helping ensure families and small businesses are not forced to subsidize the extraordinary infrastructure demands of large-scale data centers. The bipartisan Data Center Transparency Act (H.R. 6984) would bring greater scrutiny to energy and water use, environmental impacts, and effects on utility systems and household costs. And the Data Center Bill of Rights (H.Res. 1471) would strengthen local authority, expand transparency, and give communities a meaningful voice before major projects move forward. Fitzpatrick is also pressing developers to meet clear standards on labor, worker safety, environmental protection, resource use, infrastructure demands, and project costs—so communities have the information and protections they need from the outset. Taken together, these efforts are aimed at ensuring innovation moves forward without asking families and communities to bear the costs or surrender their voice in the process.