Data centers continue to drive load growth and utility spending outside California and the Northeast, but the triple threat of physics, policy and politics is beginning to constrain some of the industry’s highest aspirations.
Executives from American Electric Power, FirstEnergy, PPL and Vistra were among those who highlighted issues in the PJM Interconnection that are slowing resource development, including uncertainty surrounding the grid operator’s backstop procurement process for data centers. Outside of PJM, the CEO of Eversource flatly declared he is “not interested” in data centers, as they are “only going to drive up the price of energy.”
Still, many companies touted data center pipelines of many gigawatts, though executives often took pains to emphasize their efforts to protect ratepayers from related cost-shifts, as well as research showing that load growth can apply downward pressure on rates under the right circumstances.
Below you’ll find all our 2026 first-quarter earnings coverage gathered in one place where you can learn more about what leaders in the electric power sector are thinking, and how they are planning for the future.
