California Lawmakers Weigh Data Center Rules Amid Rate Worries

Jan. 29, 2026, 10:00 AM UTC

Data centers haven’t made a significant difference on electric rates in California, according to state lawmakers, but they want new rules in place to avoid higher costs as more such facilities come online.

State policymakers are weighing a range of legislative options. They include creating a special fee for data-center developers to cover the costs of new electrical infrastructure and requiring such facilities to report monthly to the state on their electricity use.

Lawmakers didn’t settle on a particular approach during a joint hearing of two state Assembly committees on Wednesday. The lawmakers, however, expressed mounting concerns about how the ...

Learn more about Bloomberg Government or Log In to keep reading:

See Breaking News in Context

Providing news, analysis, data and opportunity insights.

Already a subscriber?

Log in to keep reading or access research tools and resources.