{
  "id": 586238,
  "title": "US power demand to reach new highs through 2027, EIA says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/us-power-demand-to-reach-new-highs-through-2027-eia-says",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-08-11T17:27:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Investing.com",
    "slug": "investing-com",
    "url": "https://www.investing.com/news/economy-news/us-power-demand-to-reach-new-highs-through-2027-eia-says-93CH-4852372"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The United States is projected to experience record-high electricity consumption in 2026 and 2027, according to projections from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). This growth is attributed to the expansion of data center operations, particularly those supporting artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency, as well as increased electrification across various sectors of the economy. Electricity demand is expected to increase from 4,195 billion kilowatt-hours in 2025 to 4,268 billion kWh in 2026 and 4,391 billion kWh in 2027.\n\nData centers, driven by the rise of artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency operations, are a significant contributor to the increased power demand. Additionally, there is a growing trend of residential and commercial use of electricity as a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels for heating and transportation. However, the EIA has revised its forecast for Texas in 2027, anticipating a 6% growth in electricity load, down from the previously projected 14%.\n\nResidential electricity sales are expected to slightly decline in 2026, from the record 1,515 billion kWh in 2025, to 1,514 billion kWh. Commercial electricity sales are projected to rise to 1,545 billion kWh, while industrial sales will remain steady at 1,064 billion kWh. The share of electricity generated from coal is projected to decrease from 17% in 2025 to 16% in 2026 and 15% in 2027. Natural gas is expected to maintain a 40% share in electricity generation through 2027, consistent with 2025 levels.\n\nRenewable energy's share of power generation is anticipated to grow from approximately 24% in 2025 to 25% in 2026 and 27% in 2027. Nuclear power generation is projected to remain steady at 18% for both 2026 and 2027. Natural gas consumption for residential use is expected to fall to 12.5 billion cubic feet per day in 2026, while commercial consumption will decrease to 9.5 billion cubic feet per day. Industrial natural gas consumption is projected to increase to 23.9 billion cubic feet per day, while power generation will use 36.6 billion cubic feet per day.",
  "summary": "The United States is expected to see electricity consumption reach new record levels through 2027, according to projections from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). The agency attributes this growth to expanding data center operations, particularly those supporting artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency activities, as well as increased electrification across various sectors, including heating and transportation. In 2026, power demand is forecasted to reach 4,268 billion kilowatt-hours, with an even higher projection of 4,391 billion kWh in 2027, surpassing the 2025 record of 4,195 billion kWh. The EIA has adjusted its forecast for Texas, anticipating a 6% growth in electricity demand for the year, down from the previously projected 14%. Projections indicate that residential power sales will slightly decline to 1,514 billion kWh in 2026, while commercial sales are expected to rise to 1,545 billion kWh. Industrial sales will remain steady at 1,064 billion kWh. The share of electricity generated from coal is projected to decrease from 17% in 2025 to 15% in 2027, while natural gas will maintain a 40% share throughout the period. Renewable energy's contribution to power generation is expected to rise from 24% in 2025 to 27% in 2027, with nuclear power holding steady at 18% in both 2026 and 2027.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}