House Republicans plan to bring the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act to the floor Tuesday, advancing legislation designed to prevent households from being stuck with the infrastructure costs of the nation’s rapidly expanding data center industry. The bill would require technology companies to pay for infrastructure associated with data center development, rather than shifting those expenses onto utility customers and local communities. Its scheduled vote follows growing complaints about higher energy prices and concerns over data centers’ demands on electricity and water. The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the measure unanimously this summer. House leaders had been weighing whether to schedule a vote before lawmakers leave Washington until after the November elections, but mounting political pressure appears to have pushed the issue onto the floor. At least five vulnerable House Republicans have joined the bill as co-sponsors since Sept. 1: Reps. Bill Huizenga and Tom Barrett of Michigan, David Valadao of California, Jen Kiggans of Virginia, and Mónica de la Cruz of Texas. The legislation now has 42 Democratic and Republican co-sponsors. Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Colo., and Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., are leading the measure. The vote will take place under an expedited procedure requiring support from two-thirds of lawmakers present and voting, a higher threshold than a simple majority. Valadao said the issue deserves attention, particularly because of water and energy concerns in California. He also criticized efforts to turn the debate into an election-season political weapon. “Obviously it has to be addressed — making sure that we’re protecting our natural resources like water in my district,” Valadao said before signing on as a co-sponsor. He also pointed to California’s costly regulatory environment as a major contributor to high energy prices. The vote comes as communities across the country debate whether data centers deliver enough local economic benefit to justify their demands on power grids, water systems and roads. The facilities support cloud computing and artificial intelligence but can consume enormous amounts of electricity, leaving ratepayers vulnerable if utilities pass along the cost of new generation and transmission projects. For lawmakers facing the midterms, the bill offers a chance to address an affordability concern without abandoning the technology sector. Its fate will show whether bipartisan frustration with the data center boom can overcome the usual congressional resistance to imposing new obligations on major companies.