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HARRISBURG -- Data centers and other large electricity users are expected to drive a sharp increase in Pennsylvania's power demand over the next several years, according to a new report from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.
The PUC's 2026 Electric Power Outlook projects industrial electricity use will increase an average of 18.56% annually through 2030, compared with increases of 0.52% for residential customers and 0.32% for commercial customers.
The projected industrial growth is being driven largely by proposed data centers.
"Pennsylvania's electricity needs have been relatively stable for years, but large new loads have the potential to fundamentally change that picture," PUC Chairman Steve DeFrank said. "That makes accurate forecasting and careful planning more important than ever."
Electricity consumption statewide actually decreased 0.24% in 2025, while the number of electric customers increased about 0.4%.
The biggest projected change is in PPL Electric Utilities' territory, where total electricity use is expected to increase an average of 20.51% annually through 2030. Industrial use is projected to increase 51.05% annually.
The PUC said the projected increase in PPL's industrial demand is almost entirely tied to anticipated large data centers.
The commission cautioned that the numbers are projections. Proposed large-load projects could be delayed, changed or abandoned because of financing, construction schedules, economic conditions or other factors.
The increased demand is being projected as Pennsylvania and the PJM Interconnection region face questions about whether future electric generation and transmission will be sufficient to meet demand.
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation projects PJM's anticipated reserve margin could fall below its required level in 2029 as electricity demand grows and some existing generation is retired.
Pennsylvania's generating capacity increased from 45,096 megawatts in 2024 to 45,733 megawatts in 2025, according to the PUC. No Pennsylvania generators submitted deactivation notices during 2025.
At the same time, PJM's 2025 Regional Transmission Expansion Plan identified about $3.56 billion in transmission projects in Pennsylvania, compared with $1.64 billion in the previous year's plan.
"Growth brings opportunity, but reliability depends on generation, transmission and demand moving together," DeFrank said.
DeFrank also raised the question of who will pay for infrastructure needed to serve large new electricity users.
"As Pennsylvania's electricity needs evolve, we need to make sure the infrastructure necessary to serve that growth can keep pace -- and that the costs associated with major new loads are appropriately addressed rather than simply shifted to existing families and businesses," he said.
The PUC has been seeking longer-range demand and peak-load forecasts from electric distribution companies as it examines the effects of large-load customers on the state's power system.
The commission said the additional forecasting should help regulators determine where new demand is likely to occur and what generation and transmission infrastructure will be needed to serve it.
The Electric Power Outlook is prepared annually by the PUC's Bureau of Technical Utility Services and examines electricity use and projected demand among Pennsylvania's regulated electric distribution companies.