U.S. electricity consumption is expected to climb to fresh record highs in 2026 and 2027, driven by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence, increasing demand from data centres and the continued electrification of homes and businesses, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's latest Short-Term Energy Outlook. The agency forecasts power demand will rise from a record 4,195 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2025 to 4,269 TWh in 2026, before reaching 4,399 TWh in 2027. Growing electricity use by AI and cryptocurrency data centres, alongside reduced reliance on fossil fuels for heating and transport, is expected to remain the primary driver of demand.
