US Electricity Demand to Hit Record Highs by 2027

The Energy Information Administration projects that United States electricity consumption will reach record highs in 2026 and 2027. This trend, marking the third consecutive year of record demand, is driven by the expansion of artificial intelligence data centers and a broader shift toward electrification in homes and businesses.

According to the Short-Term Energy Outlook, power demand is expected to rise from 4,216 billion kilowatt-hours in 2025 to 4,306 billion kWh in 2026 and 4,370 billion kWh in 2027.

To meet this increasing need, the agency forecasts a rise in renewable energy generation, which is expected to grow from 24 percent in 2025 to 28 percent by 2027. During the same period, the share of coal-fired power is projected to decline to 15 percent. Natural gas will remain a primary energy source, holding steady at 40 percent in 2026 before easing slightly to 39 percent in 2027.