The National Load Report: The Era of Flat Power Demand is Over

Demand for electricity, which has stayed largely flat for two decades, has begun to surge according to this analysis by the consulting firm Grid Strategies. Over the past year, electric utilities have nearly doubled their forecasts of how much additional power they’ll need by 2028 as they confront an unexpected explosion in the number of data centers, an abrupt resurgence in manufacturing driven by new federal laws, and millions of electric vehicles being plugged in. Many power companies were already struggling to keep the lights on, especially during extreme weather, and say the strain on grids will only increase. Peak demand in the summer is projected to grow by 38,000 megawatts nationwide in the next five years, which is like adding another California to the grid.