Electricity consumption in the United States is entering a new phase of growth. According to the latest forecast by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the record demand set in 2025 will be surpassed in both 2026 and 2027, with the main drivers of this change being data centres developed for artificial intelligence and the ongoing electrification of the economy.
The EIA estimates that energy consumption will rise from a record 4.195 billion kWh in 2025 to 4.269 billion kWh in 2026, and then to 4.399 billion kWh in 2027. The agency points out that the growing demand is primarily driven by data centres powering AI models and cryptocurrency mining, as well as the increasing use of electricity for heating buildings and transport.
One of the most noticeable effects of this change will be the growing role of commercial customers. For the first time in history, their energy consumption is set to exceed that of households. In 2026, energy sales to commercial customers are projected to reach 1,550 billion kWh, whilst households will consume 1,508 billion kWh.
The structure of the US energy mix is also changing. According to the EIA, the share of coal-generated energy will fall from 17 per cent in 2025 to 15 per cent in 2026–2027. Natural gas will retain its position as the dominant energy source, accounting for around 40 per cent, whilst renewable energy sources will increase their share from 24 per cent to 27 per cent by 2027. Nuclear energy will remain stable at 18 per cent.
The forecasts also indicate a shift in the use of natural gas. Consumption in households and the commercial sector will fall, whilst industrial demand will rise. Demand from gas-fired power stations will also remain high, as they continue to play a key role in stabilising the energy system amidst the growing share of renewable energy sources.
The development of artificial intelligence is having an increasingly significant impact not only on the IT sector, but also on energy infrastructure. The growing demand from data centres means that access to stable energy sources is becoming one of the key factors determining the location of new investments and the pace of development of AI-based services.
