Generally revise digital asset mining and data center ratemaking laws
Summary
HB 263 revises Montana’s laws governing electricity rates and reporting for digital asset mining and data centers. The bill keeps the existing prohibition on the Public Service Commission creating unduly discriminatory electricity rate classifications for digital asset mining, digital asset mining businesses, or home digital asset mining, and it retains the statutory definitions for data centers, digital asset mining, digital asset mining businesses, discriminatory rates, and home digital asset mining.
The main new requirement is a yearly reporting mandate. By March 1 of each year, any data center or digital mining business operating in Montana, except home digital asset mining, would have to report to the Public Service Commission and the energy and telecommunications interim committee the total megawatt-hours of electricity used in the prior calendar year and the anticipated megawatt-hours needed for the current year. The act would take effect March 1, 2026.
Impact
HB 263 would amend section 69-3-332, MCA, by adding electricity-use reporting obligations for large data centers and digital asset mining businesses while leaving home-based mining exempt. It would expand state oversight of high-load electricity users by requiring annual disclosure to both the Public Service Commission and legislative interim committee, but it would not directly change the existing ban on discriminatory rate classifications for digital asset mining. The bill would affect operators of data centers and crypto mining facilities, as well as state regulators responsible for monitoring electricity demand and rate policy.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests the bill had some support in committee, but not enough to advance, as the motion to table passed 12-2 and the bill ultimately died in process. With no committee transcript available, the recorded action indicates the measure was not broadly embraced despite likely interest in energy-use transparency and utility planning. Overall, the sentiment appears cautious or unfavorable in committee, at least to the extent that members preferred to set the bill aside rather than move it forward.
Contention
The likely points of contention were the new reporting requirements for data centers and digital asset mining businesses, especially concerns about regulatory burden, privacy, or whether the state should collect detailed electricity-use information from private operators. Another possible issue was the bill’s focus on crypto mining and large data centers, which may have raised questions about whether these users should be treated differently from other industrial customers even though the bill preserved the existing anti-discrimination rate language. The 12-2 vote to table suggests the committee had significant reservations, though the record does not show specific arguments from supporters or opponents.