Oklahoma Governor Signs Data Center Ratepayer Protection Act

Kevin Stitt signed House Bill 2992, the Data Center Consumer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026, into law to shield Oklahoma families and small businesses from subsidizing the infrastructure and utility costs of energy-intensive data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations. The legislation, effective July 1, 2026, requires electricity suppliers to implement separate rate structures called large load tariffs for facilities adding 75 megawatts or more of demand. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission must approve these tariffs to ensure large-scale users cover their own costs rather than shifting them to residential and traditional commercial customers.

The law also mandates a 10-year service commitment from large load customers and requires developers to notify the Corporation Commission, local county commissioners, and adjoining property owners within 60 days of acquiring land. Representative Brad Boles authored the legislation to protect ratepayers, while a state senator partnered on provisions to increase transparency for rural land developments. The act aims to safeguard rural farmland as data center growth accelerates across the state.

Major utilities have embraced the new framework. Public Service Company of Oklahoma has already filed its required large load tariff with the Corporation Commission, and Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company plans to submit its own. OG&E Chairman, President and CEO Sean Trauschke applauded the bill's passage. OG&E recently agreed to power Google data centers, underscoring the growing demand that prompted the legislation.