Rep. Amanda Clinton (D-Tulsa)said that she will join Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow) as a co-author of House Bill 2992, legislation aimed at protecting Oklahoma electric ratepayers as energy demand from data centers continues to grow across the state. HB 2992 is now eligible to be heard on the House Floor.
Clinton previously authored House Bill 3392, which passed the House Utilities Committee unanimously, 9–0, earlier this session. The bill directed the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to examine the impact of large-load electric customers on the electric grid and residential ratepayers. Clinton authored HB 3392 after an interim study last fall on data centers and their impact on our resources.
Clinton said the decision to consolidate efforts around HB 2992 reflects growing bipartisan agreement that Oklahoma must proactively address the energy demands of large industrial developments while protecting everyday consumers.
“As data centers and other energy-intensive projects expand in Oklahoma, we must ensure that working families and small businesses are not left paying for infrastructure built to support billion-dollar companies,” Rep. Clinton said. “I’ve raised this issue for more than a year, and did my due diligence by hosting a legislative study on the topic last fall. Since then, many important conversations have happened on both sides of the aisle, culminating in my authoring HB 3392 and my colleagues introducing measures as well. I’m grateful this issue has been elevated and gained bipartisan momentum, so I’m proud to consolidate efforts with Rep. Boles and support HB 2992.”
HB 2992 seeks to ensure that large energy users help cover the costs of infrastructure needed to support their operations, preventing those expenses from being passed on to residential customers.
“I appreciate the strong bipartisan support behind this bill from my colleagues who understand how important this issue is for Oklahoma families,” Rep. Boles said. “With more than a dozen potential data centers considering our state, we must make sure everyday Oklahomans are not left paying higher electric bills because of increased demand. This is about protecting ratepayers and ensuring large energy users pay for the infrastructure needed to support their operations instead of shifting those costs onto families and small businesses. We have a duty to put proper ratepayer protections in place. Oklahoma families should not be expected to finance major system upgrades required for high-demand users. Those costs should rest with the companies driving the need.”
Clinton said joining Boles’ legislation allows lawmakers to advance a unified approach to protecting ratepayers.
“This is a complex issue that requires thoughtful policy and cooperation across party lines,” Clinton said. “Rep. Boles and I share the same goal of ensuring Oklahoma families are not subsidizing massive new energy demands from large corporate customers, and working together creates a stronger opportunity to move meaningful protections forward. I’m proud to work with Rep. Boles to protect regular Oklahomans.”