Oklahoma House Panel Advances Clinton Bill to Shield Ratepayers from Data Center Costs

Legislation aims to protect consumers as utilities face growing demand from industrial projects.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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An Oklahoma House panel has advanced a bill introduced by Rep. Cindy Clinton that aims to shield ratepayers from bearing the costs of providing electricity and other utilities to massive industrial projects like data centers. The legislation comes as utilities in the state face growing demand from these types of large-scale developments.

Why it matters

As more energy-intensive industrial facilities like data centers locate in Oklahoma, there are concerns that the costs of providing the necessary utility infrastructure could be passed on to residential and small business customers through higher electricity rates. This bill seeks to address those concerns and ensure that everyday ratepayers are not unduly burdened.

The details

The bill advanced by the Oklahoma House panel would require utilities to get approval from state regulators before passing along the costs of providing service to large industrial customers. Supporters say this will help protect ratepayers from shouldering the burden of the infrastructure needed to power these big projects.

  • The Oklahoma House panel advanced the bill on February 13, 2026.

The players

Rep. Cindy Clinton

An Oklahoma state representative who introduced the bill to shield ratepayers from data center utility costs.

Oklahoma utilities

Electric and other utility providers in the state that are facing growing demand from large industrial projects like data centers.

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What they’re saying

“We must ensure that everyday Oklahomans are not forced to pay more on their utility bills to subsidize the needs of massive corporate data centers.”

— Rep. Cindy Clinton, Oklahoma State Representative (spotonoklahoma.com)

What’s next

The bill will now move to the full Oklahoma House for further consideration.

The takeaway

This legislation aims to strike a balance between supporting economic development and protecting residential and small business ratepayers from bearing the brunt of the infrastructure costs required by large industrial projects like data centers.