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Senate Dems block bill to protect consumers from data center-driven electricity price hikes

Schumer argued that the bill did not require data centers to pay for the costs they impose and called it an inadequate measure.

Senate Dems block bill to protect consumers from data center-driven electricity price hikes
Image · The Washington Times

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Outlet credibilityThe Washington Times69/100 MEDIUM
This article1 analysis · Sep 30, 2026
tl;dr

The Senate voted 57-43 to block debate on the House-passed Ratepayer Protection Act, which would require utilities to consider whether data centers should pay for related costs. Democrats said the measure was ineffective; Republicans said it would help protect consumers from higher electricity prices.

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13 VOTES
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Chuck Schumer D · NY · SEN
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People in this story

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Chuck Schumer
D · NY · SEN

Senate Minority Leader opposing the bill

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Jon Husted
R · OH · SEN

Senate sponsor of the Ratepayer Protection Act

Husted's version of this story ↗
Amy Klobuchar
D · MN · SEN

Senator who voted for the bill and is running for governor

Jon Ossoff
D · GA · SEN

Senator who voted for the bill

Raphael G. Warnock
D · GA · SEN

Senator who voted for the bill

Maggie Hassan
D · NH · SEN

Senator who voted for the bill

John Thune
R · SD · SEN

Senate Majority Leader defending the bill

Martin Heinrich
D · NM · SEN

Senator advocating stronger requirements for data centers

Sheldon Whitehouse
D · RI · SEN

Senator negotiating stronger data-center requirements

Shelley Moore Capito
R · WV · SEN

Senator and Republican negotiator on separate energy-permitting legislation

Alan Armstrong
R · OK · SEN

Senator and Republican negotiator on separate energy-permitting legislation

Sherrod Brown
Former U.S. Senator (D-OH)

Senate candidate and former senator cited as Husted’s election opponent

Part of a bigger story

9 OUTLETS
Schumer Opposes Data Center Cost Bill as Senate Democrats Block Debate

Senate Democrats blocked debate on the Ratepayer Protection Act, a bill addressing data-center electricity costs; Schumer said its protections were inadequate. Left-leaning outlets portray the bill as offering weak, optional protections and connect its defeat to Husted’s reelection fight. Center outlets explain the dispute over whether the bill’s voluntary approach would protect ratepayers, alongside competing party arguments and some Democratic division. Right-leaning outlets stress that Democrats blocked a Republican effort presented as lowering electricity costs, with coverage also emphasizing political or electoral implications.

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