Energy Cost Fairness and Reliability Act of 2026 (H.R.10579, US)

Directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to establish standard interconnection procedures for large loads (esp. for data centers) requesting to interconnect to the interstate transmission system, including: requiring covering all costs of interconnection; assigning network upgrades; maintaining reliability; requiring demand flexibility; requiring large load customer to arrange for new generation to meet its demands; queue prioritization for large load customers meeting battery and labor standards; study and interconnection fees and withdrawal penalties. Authorizes Department of Energy to to require data collection from data centers to identify and track energy and water use trends, establish benchmarks, and support the development of projection models; data to be kept confidential (FOIA exempt). Establishes data-center-scale AI testbed at a National Laboratory to facilitate research on energy and infrastructure efficient technologies. Report to Congress and FERC to include input from testbed and other govt projects, and from academia and industry, and to cover: load growth due to data centers, impact on grid and resources, planning by utilities, tech for reducing power and water usage, utilization of waste heat, and demand flexibility, and to make technical and policy recommendations. Topline data and conclusions to be made public.