Begich Introduces Companion Bill to Meet Data Center Energy Demands Without Raising Americans' Utility Bills

U.S. Representative Nick Begich (R-Alaska), alongside Congressmen Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) and Burgess Owens (R-Utah), introduced the House companion bill to the Decentralized Access to Technology Alternatives (DATA) Act of 2026 on April 21, 2026. This legislation, first introduced by Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), aims to expand energy production for the technology industry, particularly data centers, without increasing costs for American utility ratepayers. The DATA Act proposes the creation of "consumer-regulated electric utilities" (CREUs), which are off-grid electric systems physically isolated from the traditional bulk power system. These CREUs would be exempt from federal regulations under the Federal Power Act, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the Department of Energy, provided that the operating companies bear all costs without passing them to consumers. Rep. Begich emphasized that this "grid-of-one" approach is crucial for innovation in AI and emerging technologies, preventing household subsidies and alleviating strain on local utilities, particularly highlighting its benefits for Alaska's stranded energy assets. This legislative effort aligns with President Trump's "Ratepayer Protection Pledge Proclamation," issued earlier on March 4, 2026. Under this national policy, "leading United States hyperscalers and AI companies" pledged to finance their own energy generation resources and power delivery infrastructure upgrades for their data centers. They also committed to negotiating separate rate structures with utilities and state governments, paying for infrastructure regardless of consumption, investing in local communities, and coordinating with grid operators for grid reliability. The DATA Act seeks to provide a regulatory framework supporting these industry commitments.