DATA Act of 2026

This bill creates a new category of independent electricity provider called a "consumer-regulated electric utility" (CREU) for systems serving previously unserved electric loads. CREUs operate entirely separate from the main electricity grid (physically "islanded") and are exempt from federal regulations covering rates, reliability standards, interconnection rules, and other oversight by FERC and the Department of Energy. To maintain this exemption, CREUs must never connect to the bulk-power system; if they do, they lose the exemption and become subject to full federal regulation. The bill directly affects new CREUs and their customers who receive service exclusively through these independent systems.