Utilities in Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania are projecting that electricity demand could double or triple in coming years, citing growth in artificial intelligence and data centers. But regulators and watchdogs say those forecasts may be inflated.

Joe Bowring, who heads Monitoring Analytics in the mid‑Atlantic grid territory, said “nobody really knows” whether the projections are speculative, double‑counted or based on projects that may never be built. PJM Interconnection, which operates the nation’s largest power grid across 13 states including Ohio, has reported a surge in requests from data centers, but its market monitor has warned that many of those projects may never materialize.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has opened reviews into how data centers connect to the grid, warning that rushed investments could leave ratepayers footing the bill for billions in new plants and infrastructure. 11/18/2025