Bill protecting ratepayers, ensuring electrical grid reliability, guiding responsible data center development heard in committee OLYMPIA – A bill protecting ratepayers from potential new costs associated with large energy use facilities (ELEUFs), such as data centers, in Washington state was heard Friday in the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee. Senate Bill 6171, sponsored by Sen. Sharon Shewmake (D-Bellingham), is the Senate companion to House Bill 2515, sponsored by Rep. Beth Doglio (D-Olympia). It would require electric utilities with an emerging large energy use facility in its service territory to include a consumer cost-protection policy, protecting ratepayers from costs associated with the development and energy needs of the facility. These policies would require Utilities and Transportation Commission approval that the ...