Representative Brad Boles

R

District 51

Hi, I'm Brad Boles and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 51st District.


representative

Leadership

Oversight Committee Chair

60th Legislature

News & Announcements

Jan 8, 2026
Recent Posts

Boles files bill to protect Oklahomans from utility rate increases due to new data centers

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Brad Boles, R-Marlow, has filed legislation with the intent to protect Oklahomans from having to pay increased utility rates by ensuring data centers pay their share of infrastructure costs as they expand across the state. House Bill 2992 , titled the Data Center Consumer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026, would require data centers to pay their share of infrastructure costs associated with their significant electricity demands. While the bill's language is still being finalized, it is being drafted to prevent those costs from being passed on to residential, industrial and small-business ratepayers through higher utility rates. "With more than a dozen potential new data centers planning to locate in Oklahoma that we are aware of at this point, we have to make sure everyday Oklahomans are not stuck paying the price of the electricity use due to these new data centers being built," Boles said. "This bill is about protecting ratepayers and making sure massive energy users cover the infrastructure needed to support their operations instead of shifting that burden onto families and small businesses." Data centers are specialized facilities that store, process and manage digital information. Often referred to as the home of the internet, they house servers, networking equipment and electrical systems that allow everything from cloud storage to video streaming and online banking to navigation apps and email to function in real time. These facilities are connected by fiber-optic cables across the globe and require enormous amounts of electricity to operate. According to the Pew Research Center , a typical AI-focused hyperscale data center can consume as much electricity each year as 100,000 households. Even larger facilities currently under construction are expected to use multiple times that amount. "As these facilities grow, we, as the legislature, must put guardrails in place so Oklahomans are not the ones footing the bill for new substations, transmission lines and other infrastructure upgrades," Boles said. "This legislation ensures fairness and keeps utility rates from climbing for our Oklahoma ratepayers because of the unprecedented increased demand of new electrical generation needed due to the AI data centers. I look forward to working to ensure we have proper safeguards and protections in place for our Oklahoma ratepayers." The Data Center Consumer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026 will be eligible for consideration when the Legislature convenes for the Second Regular Session on Feb. 2. Rep. Boles serves as the Oklahoma House of Representatives Chair of the Energy & Natural Resources Oversight Committee.

May 8, 2025
Recent Posts

Behind the Meter Legislation Heads to Governor's Desk

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Brad Boles, R-Marlow, has secured final passage of Senate Bill 480 , legislation that allows private industry to develop and manage their own power solutions "behind the meter". The bill will open the door for billions of dollars for new economic development across Oklahoma.  "I am proud that the Legislature has come together to pass Senate Bill 480, which will be a game changer for Oklahomans," Boles said. "This is a proactive solution that could help address the bottleneck in grid connections, especially for large industrial consumers. By enabling the private sector to fund and develop energy infrastructure, the bill will alleviate pressure on Oklahoma’s electric grid, allowing businesses to meet growing energy demands more efficiently." Passing the Oklahoma House with a unanimous vote of 90-0, Boles highlighted the significance of this bill in encouraging economic growth in Oklahoma, particularly in light of the state's abundant natural gas resources. "I want to thank my legislative colleagues, Senator Green, and the 67 House co-authors of this bill, which reflects the strong bipartisan support for what it will do for our great state," Boles said. "With this legislation, Oklahoma is poised to attract billions in new investment and job creation, while minimizing the need for long transmission lines by generating power closer to where it’s needed." Sen. Grant Green, R-Wellston, served as the Senate author of the bill, playing a key role in guiding it through the Senate. His efforts were instrumental in building support in the Senate for the measure and advancing its goals of strengthening Oklahoma’s energy infrastructure and economic development. “This legislation is a big win for Oklahoma because it allows private businesses to advance development projects without delays in areas lacking energy infrastructure,” Green said. “Simply put, Senate Bill 480 paves the way for greater economic expansion by giving companies the freedom and flexibility to meet their own energy needs while protecting our existing energy grid from the strain of these large energy consumers.” The bill is particularly relevant as the demand for energy rises due to growing investments in manufacturing and AI data centers in the Midwest and Southeast. As the U.S. faces significant delays in grid connection, often spanning five to seven years, SB480 provides a solution that positions Oklahoma as a national leader in accommodating these new large-scale energy demands without risking grid reliability to our constituents. With support from private industry and safeguards for ratepayers, Boles views SB480 as a win for Oklahoma’s economy, job creation and energy independence. SB480 passes both legislative chambers with unanimous support and now awaits the governor’s signature.

Mar 26, 2025
Recent Posts

Behind the Meter Legislation Passes OK House Unanimously

OKLAHOMA CITY — House Bill 1374 , authored by Rep. Brad Boles, R-Marlow, passed the Oklahoma House with a unanimous vote of 86-0. This bill allows private industry to develop and manage their own power solutions "behind the meter". If it becomes law, the measure could open the door for billions of dollars in new economic development across Oklahoma.  "House Bill 1374 is a proactive solution that could help address the bottleneck in grid connections, especially for large industrial consumers," Boles said. "By enabling the private sector to fund and develop energy infrastructure, the bill would alleviate pressure on Oklahoma’s electric grid, allowing businesses to meet growing energy demands more efficiently." Rep. Boles highlighted the significance of this bill in encouraging economic growth in Oklahoma, particularly in light of the state's abundant natural gas resources. "With this bill, Oklahoma could attract billions of dollars in new investments and job creation while reducing the need for long transmission lines by producing power directly at the source of demand," he said. The bill is particularly relevant as the demand for energy rises due to growing investments in manufacturing and AI data centers in the Midwest and Southeast. As the U.S. faces significant delays in grid connection—often spanning five to seven years—HB1374 provides a solution that positions Oklahoma as a leader in accommodating these new large-scale energy demands. With the backing of private industry and protections for ratepayers, Rep. Boles believes HB1374 is seen as a win for Oklahoma’s economy, job creation and energy independence. The bill now moves to the Senate, where it is sponsored by Senator Grant Green for further consideration.