Bills · S 3852
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 3852Energy
GRID Act
INTRO FEB 11· LAST ACTION FEB 11
READING
9MIN
COSPONSORS
2BIPARTISAN
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenVoters should care about this bill because it directly addresses the rising cost of living, specifically electricity rates, which are a major household expense. With the rapid expansion of data centers, concerns have grown about their significant energy consumption and potential strain on local power grids, which some argue could lead to higher costs for everyday consumers. If this bill becomes law, it aims to prevent or mitigate such rate increases by forcing data centers to absorb these costs or generate their own power.
If the bill passes, new data centers would need to plan for independent power, which could alter where they are built and how quickly. Existing data centers would either invest in their own energy solutions or contribute financially to offset their grid impact. If the bill doesn't pass, the current trend of data centers drawing heavily from the public grid would likely continue, and debates about their impact on residential electricity rates would persist without a federal framework specifically designed to prioritize those rates.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
New data centers (20 megawatts or more) must generate all their own power, completely separate from the electric grid, 180 days after the bill becomes law.
This aims to reduce the immediate strain new large data centers place on the public grid and insulate residential rates from their energy demands.
PROVISION 02
Existing data centers have 10 years to go off-grid or obtain a 'Zero Rate Effect Certificate' annually, which requires proving they won't increase residential electricity rates.
This provides a transition period and an alternative compliance path for existing facilities, allowing them to remain connected if they mitigate their impact on residential rates.
PROVISION 03
The Secretary of Energy must prioritize residential ratepayers when determining if a data center qualifies for a 'Zero Rate Effect Certificate' and can require payments (Rate Effect Credits) to offset any rate increases.
This establishes a clear mandate to protect homeowners' and renters' electricity costs above other ratepayer classes.
PROVISION 04
Any power source built by a data center to comply with this act must adhere to all environmental laws and be constructed under a project labor agreement.
This ensures that data centers' independent power solutions meet environmental standards and adhere to specific labor practices for construction.
PROVISION 05
Violating the off-grid or certificate requirement incurs a civil penalty of at least $1,000,000 per day.
This imposes a significant financial disincentive for non-compliance, aiming to ensure strict adherence to the bill's requirements.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 2
R· Missouri
YRS IN OFFICE
7
BILLS LED
51
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 100%
DEM 1 REP 1 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSFEB 11
Introduced in Senate
FEB 11
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 3852
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedFeb 11, 2026
Last actionFeb 11, 2026
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED FEB 11, 2026
Senate BillS 3852Energy
GRID Act
INTRODUCED FEB 11, 2026· LAST ACTION FEB 11, 2026
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
9 min
COSPONSORS
2
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
