Georgia House approves bill to codify consumer protections for large data-center contracts
February 17, 2026 | 2026 Legislature Georgia, Georgia
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The Georgia House on Feb. 17 passed House Bill 10-63, a measure aimed at locking in consumer protections for electricity contracts with very large data centers. The bill was approved by voice and roll call after floor debate, with the clerk announcing the vote as 159 yeas to 5 nays.
Chairman Brad Thomas, the bill’s sponsor and a member of the special committee on resource management, said the measure ‘‘puts those protections into statute’’ and defined a data center as a facility with a peak annual electricity demand of 100 megawatts or greater. Thomas told the chamber the bill requires minimum billing, flexible contract terms scaled to project size, performance and credit provisions to protect ratepayers, and termination provisions to guard against costs being socialized if a data center defaults. ‘‘Data centers will pay their own way, period,’’ Thomas said on the floor.
Opponents questioned whether the bill actually prevents future rate increases that could be approved by the Public Service Commission. Representative Stacy Evans asked where the bill explicitly bars a utility or the PSC from approving capital-cost passes through to residential consumers; Thomas replied the bill focuses on contract terms and capital-cost allocation language, leaving rate-setting and related PSC authorities to their established processes.
Other critics argued the legislation ‘‘adds no additional protections for consumers’’ and largely codifies rules the PSC has already adopted, while supporters said it establishes statutory guardrails and preserves PSC flexibility to adapt as the industry evolves. Several members urged ongoing work on planning and local notification around anticipated demand and generation needs.
The bill’s language applies to new contracts going forward and does not alter existing agreements, the sponsor said. The House adopted a committee substitute without objection and passed the bill by the announced tally. The measure now moves to its next procedural step per legislative process.
The House recorded the final vote tallies on the floor; the clerk announced the yeas at 159 and nays at 5. The House adjourned and is scheduled to reconvene Feb. 18 at 10:00 a.m.
Chairman Brad Thomas, the bill’s sponsor and a member of the special committee on resource management, said the measure ‘‘puts those protections into statute’’ and defined a data center as a facility with a peak annual electricity demand of 100 megawatts or greater. Thomas told the chamber the bill requires minimum billing, flexible contract terms scaled to project size, performance and credit provisions to protect ratepayers, and termination provisions to guard against costs being socialized if a data center defaults. ‘‘Data centers will pay their own way, period,’’ Thomas said on the floor.
Opponents questioned whether the bill actually prevents future rate increases that could be approved by the Public Service Commission. Representative Stacy Evans asked where the bill explicitly bars a utility or the PSC from approving capital-cost passes through to residential consumers; Thomas replied the bill focuses on contract terms and capital-cost allocation language, leaving rate-setting and related PSC authorities to their established processes.
Other critics argued the legislation ‘‘adds no additional protections for consumers’’ and largely codifies rules the PSC has already adopted, while supporters said it establishes statutory guardrails and preserves PSC flexibility to adapt as the industry evolves. Several members urged ongoing work on planning and local notification around anticipated demand and generation needs.
The bill’s language applies to new contracts going forward and does not alter existing agreements, the sponsor said. The House adopted a committee substitute without objection and passed the bill by the announced tally. The measure now moves to its next procedural step per legislative process.
The House recorded the final vote tallies on the floor; the clerk announced the yeas at 159 and nays at 5. The House adjourned and is scheduled to reconvene Feb. 18 at 10:00 a.m.
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