US utilities add data center load by the gigawatt

· Energy · United States

US utilities reported sharp growth in their data center pipelines this week. American Electric Power raised its investment plan 30%, citing generation and transmission spending, and said contracted large loads jumped 22% to 84 GW, mainly on a 10.4-GW Ohio data center being developed by SB Energy. FirstEnergy's pipeline rose to 26 GW in the third quarter; two of its utilities reserved combined-cycle turbines for a 1.2-GW data center-focused project in West Virginia and issued a solicitation for another 3 GW. Separately, electrical equipment supplier Hubbell said data center purchases of its products are up 80% since 2025, though a temporary shortage of meter components should clear by year-end.

Why it matters：Data center demand is now the dominant driver of utility capital spending and equipment orders, reshaping grid planning and supply chains across the US.

Key points

  • AEP's contracted large loads rose to 84 GW, up 22%.
  • FirstEnergy reserved turbines for a 1.2-GW West Virginia project and sought bids for 3 GW more.
  • Hubbell says data center purchases of its equipment are up 80% since 2025.

Sources (original reporting)

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