Ratepayer Bill of Rights Act of 2026

Key Points

• The bill defines a covered data center as one using at least 50 megawatts of electricity or 100,000 gallons of water a day, and requires those operators to publicly report their actual water and power use every three to six months.
• Data center companies would have to pay for all infrastructure built to serve them and could not shift those costs onto household, farm, or small business utility bills. Any improper charge would have to be refunded with interest.
• Before a data center can lock in water or electricity service, an independent study must confirm there is enough left for households, farms, hospitals, and schools, especially during droughts or power shortages.
• Communities get at least 60 days notice and a public meeting before a data center is approved, along with cost and water studies published in plain language, in English and Spanish where needed.
• Companies cannot use confidentiality claims or trade secret protections to hide how much water or power they use, and regulators can audit compliance, order refunds, and fine violators.