COLUMBUS, Ohio — As Ohio braces for a tighter power grid driven by rapid data-center growth, lawmakers are considering a new way to reduce strain: paying customers to use less electricity when demand peaks.
House Bill 427 would allow residential and small commercial customers to voluntarily participate in “demand response” programs, where utilities could temporarily adjust thermostats or water heaters during periods of extreme demand.
In exchange, customers would receive bill credits or other incentives…