[USA] EIA: AI driving record US electricity demand through 2029

As of May 19, 2026, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Today in Energy highlighted how accelerating electricity demand from AI and data centers is reshaping U.S. power markets and generation planning. The agency noted that U.S. electricity consumption is expected to reach new record highs through 2027, with commercial-sector demand increasingly driven by hyperscale computing facilities. EIA forecasts show renewables continuing to expand rapidly, but natural gas generation is also expected to remain elevated as utilities respond to rising baseload needs and transmission bottlenecks tied to data-center growth. The issue is becoming especially acute in regions such as PJM and ERCOT, where grid operators are warning about higher capacity prices, interconnection delays, and infrastructure constraints linked to large new loads. Industry discussions around the report have increasingly focused on whether data-center developers should directly finance dedicated generation and transmission assets rather than relying on broader ratepayer-supported grid expansion.

[1] https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=67704&