The House passed a bill meant to protect consumers from higher electricity rates caused by data centers in one of its final votes before the midterms. The bill passed under a procedure that fast-tracks noncontroversial legislation and requires a two-thirds majority vote. The Ratepayer Protection Act passed with overwhelming bipartisan support 417-3, with three Democrats voting against it: Reps. Summer Lee (D-PA), Delia Ramirez (D-IL) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI). Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has signaled the Senate could take up the bill.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has signaled the Senate could take up the bill. But even if the legislation passes the Senate, it’s unlikely to immediately lower energy costs: It directs states to consider making firms that operate new data centers pay a federally set rate for high-volume electricity usage.