Committee reviews H.727 edits to tightly limit PUC role on data center siting, call for new large-load contracts

The House Energy and Digital Infrastructure committee on Feb. 24 received a detailed walkthrough of proposed edits to H.727 from the Department of Public Service that would create a new contract category for large data centers and clarify which review bodies decide rate and siting issues.

"The primary intent of our edits are really to ensure that rate regulation and electric generation siting remain with the PUC, and under their jurisdiction, while land use siting remains under the jurisdiction of the land use review board," said TJ Poor, director of regulated utility planning at the Department of Public Service. Poor led the committee through red-line changes he said would protect ratepayers while acknowledging potential benefits if large electric loads locate in Vermont.

Why it matters: The edits aim to draw a clearer line between the Public Utility Commission's authority over rates, tariffs and generation-related impacts, and Act 250/land use review board authority over aesthetics, natural resources and community impacts. Committee members warned the split could create a jurisdictional gap for projects…