Marlow State Rep. Brad Boles says he is moving to protect Oklahoma utility customers from paying higher power bills tied to the explosive growth of data centers across the state.
Boles, a Republican who is also running for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, announced he has filed legislation designed to stop utilities from passing the electricity infrastructure costs required by large data centers onto residential, industrial, and small-business ratepayers.
“With more than a dozen potential new data centers planning to locate in Oklahoma that we are aware of at this point, we have to make sure everyday Oklahomans are not stuck paying the price of the electricity use due to these new data centers being built,” Boles said. “This bill is about protecting ratepayers and making sure massive energy users cover the infrastructure needed to support their operations instead of shifting that burden onto families and small businesses.”
Data Center Consumer Ratepayer Protection Act Targets Infrastructure Costs
Boles’ proposal, House Bill 2992, is titled the Data Center Consumer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026. The bill would require data centers to pay their proportional share of power infrastructure costs created by their significant electricity demand.
While final bill language is still being drafted, Boles said the legislation is specifically designed to prevent utilities from spreading the cost of new substations, transmission lines, and other upgrades across customer rate bases.
“As these facilities grow, we, as the legislature, must put guardrails in place so Oklahomans are not the ones footing the bill for new substations, transmission lines and other infrastructure upgrades,” Boles said. “This legislation ensures fairness and keeps utility rates from climbing for our Oklahoma ratepayers because of the unprecedented increased demand of new electrical generation needed due to the AI data centers.”
Lawmaker Cites Massive Power Demand From AI Data Centers
Boles’ announcement detailed why data centers present a unique challenge for utilities and regulators.
Data centers are specialized facilities that store, process, and manage digital information. Often described as the backbone of the internet, they house servers, networking equipment, cooling systems, and electrical infrastructure that power cloud storage, video streaming, navigation apps, online banking, email, and artificial intelligence tools in real time.
According to the Pew Research Center, a single AI-focused hyperscale data center can consume as much electricity annually as 100,000 households. Even larger facilities currently under development are expected to use multiple times that amount.
Boles said those demand levels require new generation capacity and grid upgrades that should not be financed by everyday customers.
Bill Heads to 2026 Legislative Session
The Data Center Consumer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026 will be eligible for consideration when the Oklahoma Legislature convenes for the Second Regular Session on Feb. 2.
Boles currently serves as Chair of the Oklahoma House Energy & Natural Resources Oversight Committee, a role that places him at the center of state energy policy discussions involving power generation, grid reliability, and ratepayer protections.
Corporation Commission Bid Frames Utility Policy Stance
Boles announced his candidacy for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission last June, tying his legislative efforts directly to the agency’s regulatory authority over utilities.
“The Corporation Commission plays a vital role in protecting Oklahoma consumers, ensuring fair utility rates, supporting responsible energy development, and maintaining the infrastructure that powers our state’s economy,” Boles said when announcing his campaign.
“I am running to bring strong conservative leadership, real-world business experience, and a pro-growth, pro-jobs vision to the Commission.”
Business Background Shapes Energy Policy Approach
A lifelong Oklahoman, Boles holds an MBA in Finance and is a third-generation business owner. He helped grow his family’s manufacturing company, Wilco, from 100 employees to nearly 500 before its sale to a Fortune 500 company. Under his leadership, Wilco was named Oklahoma’s fastest-growing privately owned manufacturing company and ranked 30th fastest-growing in the nation by Inc. Magazine.
Boles later co-founded Philtek Services, which expanded to more than 100 employees across eight states and was recently recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of America’s fastest-growing private companies.