If State Sen. Grant Green of Wellston thought his amended version of the Data Center Consumer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026 would be quickly adopted in the House where it originated, he was wrong.
House Bill 2992, whose author is Rep. Brad Boles, R-Marlow, was sent back to the House this week after the Senate voted unanimously in support of Sen. Green’s amended version. Boles apparently rejected the amended version and records show a conference committee was requested by the House, naming the House Energy and Natural Resources Oversight committee as its representatives on the conference committee.
The Senate responded and granted conference, naming Senators Grant Green, Tom Woods, Warren Hamilton, Spencer Kern, Avery Frix and Jo Anna Dossett.
It is unclear why the amended version was apparently rejected by Rep. Boles. The Green amendment claimed to add greater transparency requirements and community input for new developments.
“This legislation makes it abundantly clear that all developments that would put significant strain on Oklahoma’s electric grid must cover their own costs,” said Green, chair of the Senate Energy Committee. “Under no circumstances should Oklahoma families, farmers, ranchers and small business owners be left footing the bill.”
Large energy users and developers would be required to give 60 days notice before buying land for any large project. The notice would have to be made before the Corporation Commission and local county commissioners as well as property owners within five miles of the proposed site.
It would also require “large load” users such as data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations to cover their share of electricity and infrastructure costs. Corporation Commissioners would also have to ensure that ratepayers are not paying unfair rates driven by the significant energy demands.
The House approved the original bill by Rep. Boles on March 23 in a 92-2 vote
“Any applicable governing body responsible for reviewing electric supplier rates shall ensure that residential, commercial and industrial customers are protected from paying unjust rates resulting directly from service to large load customers. The applicable governing body shall ensure that all rates are fair, just and reasonable and costs and revenues are assigned and allocated among customers in accordance with cost causation principles.”
When the bill received approval in a House committee, Rep. Boles, who is also a candidate for the Republican nomination for Corporation Commission commented, ““I’m very encouraged to see this legislation move forward with such strong support. As Oklahoma continues to grow and attract new industry, we have to make sure the cost of that growth does not fall on hardworking families and small businesses. This bill is about fairness and making sure Oklahomans are not forced to subsidize the infrastructure needs of large data centers.”
|
||||||||||||||||