Current Events - 2025.08.12 - Data Center and AI Demand Drives Unprecedented Grid Expansion and Regulatory Scrutiny

Current Events - The Electric Utility Today

The electric utility industry is currently at a major crossroads, grappling with unprecedented load growth primarily driven by AI and data center demand, which is fundamentally reshaping the grid. For instance, Oncor, a Texas utility, has received a staggering 200 gigawatts of interconnection requests, 93% from data centers, compelling its parent company, Sempra, to consider adding $12 billion to its capital plan. This surging demand, combined with the retirement of 104 gigawatts of firm generation, is projected to cause a dramatic increase in outage hours, with Northern Virginia potentially seeing loss of load hours explode from 2.4 annually to 430 hours by 2030, a situation described as an "economic disaster". This has stirred controversy, with some calling it an "artificial crisis" where private contracts drive demand while the public is asked to fund grid upgrades, highlighting issues of transparency and a "first mover disadvantage" for regions attracting data centers. Therefore, the industry faces the complex challenge of balancing economic growth with ensuring power remains reliable and affordable for all consumers.