The proposed bill, H.B. No. 2025-2026, aims to establish a regulatory framework for data center customers in Ohio by enacting several new sections of the Revised Code. It defines key terms such as "data center" and "data center customer," and outlines the responsibilities of electric distribution utilities regarding cost recovery and service provision. Specifically, the bill prohibits utilities from recovering costs associated with data center customers from other customer classes unless deemed just and reasonable by the public utilities commission. Additionally, it mandates that data centers enter into binding commitments with utilities, including minimum demand agreements and financial assurances to protect other customers from potential risks.

The bill also sets forth minimum requirements for data center operations, including long-term service agreements and exit fees, and requires the public utilities commission to establish uniform standards for load study deposits and processing. Furthermore, any fees collected from data center customers must be credited to retail customers, ensuring that utilities do not retain these revenues as earnings. Overall, the legislation seeks to create a structured approach to managing the relationship between data centers and electric distribution utilities while safeguarding the interests of other utility customers.