Bill > H1002

This bill establishes two key components: a prohibition on passing certain data center-related electricity costs to rate payers and the creation of a Special Commission for Data Center Planning. Under the first provision, the bill defines a "commercial data center" as a facility with over 100 megawatts of peak electric demand, and prohibits public utilities from including costs related to serving these data centers in general electricity rates. The bill creates a 14-member Special Commission composed of representatives from various state agencies, utilities, and legislative bodies, tasked with reviewing the electric grid, making recommendations for data center locations, exploring grid capacity expansion, examining industry trends like artificial intelligence's impact, surveying corporate perceptions of data center capacity, and proposing related legislation. The Commission will have the power to hold hearings, request information from state agencies, and establish its own operational procedures. It is required to submit a written report of its findings within three months of its last meeting and will be automatically abolished on June 30, 2027. The bill aims to protect rate payers from bearing the infrastructure costs of large data centers while simultaneously creating a strategic planning body to manage the growth of this industry in North Carolina.

Government Affairs

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H1002