Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., blocked a Republican-led effort Thursday to fast-track the Ratepayer Protection Act, a bipartisan bill designed to protect electricity customers from potentially higher costs associated with the rapid expansion of data centers.

Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, sought unanimous consent to pass the legislation after the House approved it 417-3 on Wednesday. The bill would require state utility regulators to consider standards ensuring large electricity users, including data centers, cover the incremental costs of power generation, transmission and other grid infrastructure needed to serve them.

Heinrich said he agreed that data centers could increase electricity costs but argued the House bill did not go far enough because it asks states to consider cost-sharing rather than requiring data centers to pay for necessary upgrades. He instead sought passage of his GRID Savings Act, which would require large-load customers to cover the costs of facilities needed to connect them to the grid.

“Rather than voluntary pledges or suggestions to states, Congress needs to pass real legislation with real teeth,” Heinrich said.

Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, then objected to Heinrich's request to immediately advance the GRID Savings Act, leaving both proposals blocked. Husted's office said his bill would protect families and small businesses from being left with the costs of infrastructure required to support new data centers.

The dispute comes as the rapid growth of AI data centers has intensified debate over who should pay for the additional electricity generation and grid infrastructure they require. The issue has also emerged as a political topic ahead of the November midterm elections, particularly in states experiencing major data center expansion.