NEWS BRIEF
Colorado Politics reported that the U.S. Senate did not advance the Ratepayer Protection Act in a 57-43 procedural vote, short of the 60 votes required. U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans was a prime sponsor of the House version, which had passed earlier in the month.
The proposal would give state utility regulators two years to consider federal standards under which new data centers could cover added generation and transmission costs. Colorado Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper voted against advancing the bill. Hickenlooper said the measure would not require data centers to pay those costs, while Evans supported it as ratepayer protection.
What to know
The Senate vote did not enact or fund new utility-cost requirements. The bill would have directed regulators to consider standards, while its supporters and critics disagreed over whether that approach would effectively protect ratepayers.
Reporting: Ernest Luning · Colorado Politics · 09-30-2026
