President Trump signs Ratepayer Protection Pledge with seven tech companies on data center energy costs

President Donald J. Trump issued a proclamation on March 4, 2026, that established the Ratepayer Protection Pledge as national policy. Seven leading technology companies accepted the terms of the pledge on that day. The proclamation states that data center infrastructure supports the internet, cloud computing and artificial intelligence. It notes that large-scale data center development and AI must occur in the United States with American workers and engineers to maintain economic and technological leadership and avoid reliance on foreign industries. The pledge requires that hyperscalers and AI companies pay the full cost of energy and infrastructure for data centers. These companies guarantee that data centers will not increase household electricity costs for American citizens. Instead, the companies will build, bring or buy the new generation resources and electricity needed to meet their demands. The companies will pay for all new power delivery infrastructure upgrades to service their data centers. They will negotiate new, separate rate structures with utilities and relevant state governments and pay those rates and for the infrastructure whether they use the electricity or not. The companies will also invest in local communities and coordinate with grid operators to support a more reliable grid. The measures are intended to protect Americans from higher energy prices while allowing them to benefit from grid upgrades, increased grid resilience and the technological boom. The proclamation affirms that the pledge effectuates the national policy of the United States.