WASHINGTON (June 30, 2026) — The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) today released a new episode of its Electric Perspectives podcast, featuring Raja Sundararajan, Chief Strategy Officer at Alliant Energy, and Todd Malan, Executive Vice President of Government Relations at QTS Data Centers.

Alliant Energy delivers electricity to more than one million customers in Iowa and Wisconsin. QTS is a global data center leader that designs, builds, and operates data centers. QTS is currently building a data center campus at the Big Cedar Industrial Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that is the largest economic development project in the city and the state’s history, according to Sundararajan.

They joined EEI Chief Legal Officer Rachael Marsh and together examined how electric companies and developers are collaborating to deliver economic growth, protect customers, and accelerate the buildout of digital infrastructure.

The full episode is available at: https://www.electricperspectives.com/podcast

Keeping Bills Affordable: The Ratepayer Protection Pledge

Key Takeaway: Large-load growth can stabilize rates when structured correctly

With the right regulatory approach, large-energy load customers can fund their own infrastructure and generate excess revenue that benefits existing customers. In this case, that structure enabled a commitment to keep rates flat for five years.

Malan said QTS is committed to being transparent and accountable in the communities where it operates:

"We made a commitment to communities that's pretty holistic across the board. It's up on our website, so we're accountable for the principles that we've laid out there—and it starts with the ratepayer protection type of commitments around energy infrastructure and paying our own way and being transparent about that."

Sundararajan explained how the rate design for large energy-use customers, like QTS, benefits current customers. Due to the energy demand and growth Alliant Energy is experiencing in Iowa, the company has committed to hold retail electric base rates flat for Iowa customers through the end of the decade:

"[QTS is] paying the fair share for both generation and transmission investments, but on the other hand, we want to make sure that they're actually providing benefit to existing customers... We are not only trying to make sure that the existing customers are seeing lesser rate increases, but actually, in fact, in our case, no [retail electric base] rate increase for five years."

Malan said the White House’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge is key to building public trust in data center investments:

"We think that the Ratepayer Protection Pledge is really an important assurance to individual ratepayers that are worried about affordability and energy cost—and rightly so. This historic investment in data infrastructure that we all need for our everyday lives—by the way, this isn't just for AI. It's for if you use MyChart to schedule your kids' pediatrician appointment, if you are working with your kids' teachers online—that is all running through a data center."

Community Engagement

Key Takeaway: Electric company-led siting is accelerating speed to market

Developers are shifting from site-first decisions to asking electric companies where the grid can support load quickly. Aligning projects with existing transmission capacity reduces delays without compromising planning discipline.

Sundararajan described how data center developers and electric companies are now working together to not only find the best places to connect to the power grid, but also understand how developers can get involved in the community and better understand its needs and opportunities.

Malan also noted that more state leaders are setting clear rules for data center developers:

"You're seeing quite a few governors who are putting out guidelines that are saying, 'If you're going to build infrastructure in our state, you're going to meet these requirements.' That means transparency about water, or you're going to do a community benefit agreement. And I think that's really healthy—to actually have these elected officials who have to represent their constituents going out there and saying, 'Yes, we need this. Yes, we have to stay ahead of China in terms of energy infrastructure and the creation and use of AI, but if you're going to do this in my state, you're going to meet these minimum requirements.'"

A Boost to the Local Economy

Key Takeaway: Community trust and benefits are now a core requirement

Project success depends on early transparency, clear communication of impacts and visible local benefits. Electric companies and developers that actively listen and respond to community priorities are more likely to gain long-term support.

Sundararajan said the Cedar Rapids community is already seeing the benefits of the project:

"We are seeing the economic development benefits of this construction project in Cedar Rapids in real time. You're talking 8,000-plus construction workers... You're talking meaningful impact to communities—and these are not temporary jobs. There's a significant amount of permanent jobs also…Being open and transparent goes a long way."

Read more excerpts from the interview or listen to the full interview here.

About Electric Perspectives

Electric Perspectives is a podcast from the Edison Electric Institute featuring conversations with policymakers and industry leaders on the most pressing issues facing the energy sector. Listen to more episodes at electricperspectives.com/podcast.