Senate votes 73-25 to debate bill requiring AI data centers to pay for their own power and grid upgrades

The U.S. Senate voted 73-25 to begin debate on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, which would require AI companies and data center developers to pay for the electricity they use and the necessary grid upgrades. The bill also speeds up federal permits for energy and infrastructure projects and limits environmental review timelines. While the bill has bipartisan support, it still needs final Senate approval, House passage, and the President's signature. The legislation could increase costs for data centers by $35 billion over a decade but lower household electricity bills by $50 to $78 annually by 2040. The market reaction has been muted as the bill faces further debate and potential changes.

Following the Senate's vote to debate a bill impacting data center energy costs, utility stocks like Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) show steady investor interest. On Pluang, ATO trades at USD 175.14 with a 1-day gain of 1.03% as of Nov 11, 2026 01:31 WIB. The stock holds a market cap of $29.29 billion and a dividend yield of 2.36%, with all recent Pluang orders being buys and a typical hold time of 53 days.