Virginia Lawmakers Introduce Federal Bills to Lower Power Bills, Secure Data Centers

By Billy Briefman · May 23, 2026 · 2 min read read

Virginia Congressmen File Energy Cost Transparency and Data Center Protection Bills Virginia members of Congress introduced federal legislation May 22 to increase energy cost transparency and...

Virginia Congressmen File Energy Cost Transparency and Data Center Protection Bills

Virginia members of Congress introduced federal legislation May 22 to increase energy cost transparency and strengthen physical protections for data centers against potential attacks, according to the Virginia Mercury.

Originally reported by Virginia Mercury. Virginia Mercury

The proposed bills address concerns over the rapid expansion of the data center industry across the Commonwealth. These measures aim to clarify how much consumers pay for energy infrastructure while securing the facilities that house critical digital information.

Addressing Energy Cost Transparency

One portion of the legislative package focuses on energy cost transparency. According to the Virginia Mercury, the bill requires clearer reporting on how data center energy demands influence utility rates for residential and commercial customers. Proponents of the bill seek to ensure that VA taxpayers and utility ratepayers do not unfairly shoulder the financial burden of infrastructure upgrades required by large-scale data facilities.

Strengthening Data Center Protections

The second bill targets the physical security of data center hubs. According to the Virginia Mercury, the legislation proposes new federal protections to defend these sites against physical attacks. The bill classifies certain data center clusters as critical infrastructure, which allows for increased federal oversight and coordination to prevent disruptions to the power grid and digital services.

This article is based on reporting originally published by Virginia Mercury. Channel RVA provides this coverage with additional local context for the Richmond community.