Experts say Ratepayer Protection Act ‘posing as a consumer protection measure’ and will raise prices on working people

The bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act, designed to shield individuals from soaring electricity prices amid the datacenter boom, would fail to meaningfully protect the public from the centers’ true costs, consumer advocates warn.

The bill, backed by some in big tech such as Microsoft, moved through a House subcommittee in mid-June, and a vote in full committee scheduled for 1 July was delayed. Its measures are largely voluntary, meaning the state utility commissions that set electric rates can ignore the law altogether.

The legislative package also includes benefits for big tech that would speed datacenter construction, prioritize the centers’ connection to the electric grid and open new loopholes that would allow companies to claim they are paying for their own power, said Jim Walsh, policy director with Food and Water Watch, which opposes the package.

Ultimately, the bill largely addresses the needs of datacenters and utilities, but not ratepayers, Walsh said.