Senate committee hears wide debate on bill to regulate data centers; staff outlines tariffs, reporting and small fee
The Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee held a public hearing on SB 6,171, a substitute bill to require utilities to adopt tariffs or policies for large 'data center' loads, set reporting requirements and levy a 0.005¢/kWh fee to fund energy assistance and AI/education programs. Proponents cited affordability and grid reliability; industry and some utilities warned of competitiveness and CCA/CETA impacts.
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The Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee on the record heard hours of testimony on a substitute for Senate Bill 6,171, a measure that would require electric utilities to make available a tariff or policy for "emerging large energy use facilities" — defined in the bill as facilities with a maximum aggregate contract demand of 20 megawatts or more, primarily engaged in data-processing and related services.
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