A bill that would put in place protections from higher utility prices and instill more transparency around data centers has passed the Oklahoma State Senate, according to a press release from the Senate.
An amended version of House Bill 2992, named the Data Center Consumer Ratepayer ProtectionAct of 2026, was passed. The bill requires that large load users, which would include data centers, artificial intelligence facilities and cryptocurrency mining operations, cover their share of electricity and infrastructure costs and give proper notice before any land transaction goes through.
According to the bill, any applicable governing body that is responsible for reviewing electric supplier rates must ensure that residential, commercial and industrial customers are protected from paying “unjust rates resulting directly from electric service to large load customers.” They must also establish and maintain separate terms and conditions of electric service, as well as separate tariffs, for any large load customer.This includes credit requirements and any other necessary measures to ensure that these companies reimburse the utility for all costs that are fairly allocated to them, including those “incurred to directly serve the customer that may remain unrecovered if the customer departs the system or materially reduces load.”
It sets the term of service at at least 10 years, unless it’s a public power utility that uses tax-exempt municipal financing, in which case the period is less than 10 years.
The bill also gives the Oklahoma Corporation Commission the ability to promulgate rules within its authority and jurisdiction to enforce the act.
Additionally, the bill requires that any large load customer who plans to purchase land in the state that is located outside of an industrial development project make substantial public notice before the sale goes through. According to the latest version of the bill, the companies must notify the Corporation Commission, the county commissioners of that county and any landowners within a five-mile radius of the proposed purchase site within 60 days before the proposed land transaction.
This can be done through “publication in a newspaper of general circulation” that is located in the county where the purchase is happening, in at least two consecutive weekly issues. They must also hold a public meeting before the transaction goes through.
According to the Senate press release, an amendment in the Senate added stricter measures regarding community protections and greater transparency.
HB 2992 now returns to the House. The co-authors of the bill are Grant Green (R), Ally Seifried (R), Mark Mann (D), Bill Coleman (R) and Dana Preieto (R) from theSenate,andBradBoles(R),MarkChapman(R),Rusty Cornwell (R), Derrick Hildebrant (R), Clay Staires (R), Mike Dobrinski (R), Amanda Clinton (D), Mickey Dollens (D), Max Wolfley (R), Arturo Alonso Sandoval (D), Annie Menz (D), Erick Harris (R), Cyndi Munson (D), Stacy Jo Adams (R) and John Waldron (D) in the House.