The Power for the People Act of 2026 addresses concerns that regular electricity customers are subsidizing the rapid expansion of data centers through higher energy bills. Data centers are massive facilities that consume enormous amounts of electricity—projections show they could account for 6.7% to 12% of all U.S. electricity demand by 2028. This bill creates new rules to make sure data center companies, not ordinary households and businesses, pay for the grid upgrades needed to support their operations.

The bill requires grid operators to create separate "load queues" specifically for data centers, similar to a waiting list that prioritizes projects based on how much they help the grid. Data centers get priority if they bring their own clean energy sources to power themselves, use battery storage, agree to have their power cut during emergencies before other customers, and pay workers prevailing wages with apprenticeship programs. Grid operators can delay or deny data center connections if they would harm grid reliability or make electricity more expensive for other customers.

The bill also requires states to create special electricity rate classes for data centers so these companies pay the full cost of any transmission and distribution upgrades their facilities require, rather than spreading those costs to regular ratepayers. Additionally, the federal government will provide grants and technical assistance to help states design these new rate structures, and will improve forecasting of data center electricity demands to help grid planners prepare more accurately.