AI data centers are turning US grid stress into a year-round problem

Surging electricity demand from AI data centers is pushing US power grid constraints beyond the traditional summer and winter peaks, turning supply strain into a year-round problem, Bloomberg reported on October 20.

Data centers draw large amounts of power continuously rather than following seasonal patterns, raising the baseline load grids must carry throughout the year.

NERC sees 224 gigawatts of new summer demand

The North American Electric Reliability Corp.’s latest Long-Term Reliability Assessment, released in January, forecasts summer peak demand growing by 224 gigawatts over the next decade, a 24% increase from 2025 levels and more than 69% above its previous forecast, Utility Dive reported. Winter peak demand is projected to grow by 246 gigawatts, with new data centers accounting for most of the increase.

NERC identified PJM Interconnection, MISO, ERCOT and parts of the Pacific Northwest as facing a high risk of insufficient reserve margins within five years, and projected that PJM’s anticipated resource margin will fall below its reference level starting in 2029.

Federal regulators are pressing grid operators to speed up connections. In June, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued show cause orders directing PJM, MISO, Southwest Power Pool, CAISO, ISO New England and the New York ISO to justify or revise their rules for interconnecting data centers and other large loads, including provisions for co-location and flexible demand.