Ratepayer Protection Pledge (White House voluntary data-center energy commitment)

Summary

Under a voluntary pledge announced at the White House on March 4, 2026, Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle and xAI agreed that household electricity customers should not bear the energy costs of their data centers. The companies committed to build, bring or buy the new generation they need and to pay for the power-delivery upgrades their data centers require. They also agreed to negotiate separate rate structures and pay them whether or not they use the power, to invest in local hiring and training, and to make backup generation available in emergencies. On July 23, 2026, the White House announced that more than 200 additional utilities, data-center developers, cooperatives and states had joined. The March 2026 National Policy Framework for AI asks Congress to give effect to the pledge's goal for residential ratepayers.

Key dates

1. March 4, 2026Takes effect
2. March 4, 2026Issued
3. October 16, 2026Checked against sources
4. October 21, 2026Checked against sources

Developments are added when the record is reviewed. Next review: January 15, 2027.

Evidence

Each passage is quoted from its source. The quoted passages are re-checked against the live pages every month.

1. Ratepayer Protection Pledge The White House March 4, 2026

   Supports: Date

   WHAT : Companies will voluntarily negotiate new, separate rate structures with their utilities and relevant State governments wherever they build data centers.

   Supports: Voluntary commitments

   Ratepayer Protection Pledge The White House Primary source

2. Under President Trump’s leadership, Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, and xAI signed the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, agreeing to build, bring, or buy new generation resources and cover the cost of all power delivery infrastructure upgrades required for their data centers

   Supports: Signatories and core commitment

   Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Advances Energy Affordability with the Ratepayer Protection Pledge The White House Primary source

3. July 23, 2026 Today, President Donald J. Trump heralded a historic expansion of the Ratepayer Protection Pledge , bringing more than 200 additional utilities, data center developers, cooperatives, and states into this growing national commitment.

   Supports: July 2026 expansion

   President Trump’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge Secures American AI Dominance, Protects Consumers The White House Primary source

4. In accordance with the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, Congress should ensure that residential ratepayers do not experience increased electricity costs as a result of new AI data center construction and operation.

   Supports: Referenced in the National Policy Framework

   National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence: Legislative Recommendations The White House Primary source