The US Energy Information Administration projects consumption of 4.31 trillion kWh in 2026 and 4.37 trillion kWh in 2027. Both would be records if realized, extending demand growth driven by data centers and electrification.
US electricity consumption is forecast to reach record highs of 4.31 trillion kWh in 2026 and 4.37 trillion kWh in 2027 in the US Energy Information Administration’s 10 November 2026 Short-Term Energy Outlook. The existing annual high is 4.22 trillion kilowatt-hours (kWh), a measure of electricity used, set in 2025. If the forecast holds, 2026 would mark the third consecutive record year.
The agency attributes the growth largely to data centers dedicated to superintelligence (SI), alongside homes and businesses using more electricity instead of fossil fuels for heating and transportation. Reuters detailed the projections in a report published by CNA.
The agency forecasts record electricity sales to residential and commercial customers. Industrial sales would remain below that sector’s peak.
| Customer group | 2026 forecast | Previous record | Record year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential | 1,546 | 1,519 | 2025 |
| Commercial | 1,557 | 1,503 | 2025 |
| Industrial | 1,061 | 1,064 | 2000 |
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The EIA expects increasing renewable generation to meet most of the rise in electricity production. Its forecast includes additions of 72 gigawatts of solar capacity and 20 gigawatts of wind capacity across 2026 and 2027. Capacity measures how much power equipment can produce, rather than the electricity it generates over a year.
| Energy source | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renewables | Around 24% | 25% | 28% |
| Natural gas | 40% | 40% | 39% |
| Coal | 17% | 15% | 15% |
| Nuclear | 18% | 18% | 18% |
Weather is also part of the projected path. The agency expects milder summer weather in 2027 to reduce residential electricity demand, partly offsetting continued growth among commercial and industrial customers.
The EIA finalized its model inputs on 5 November 2026. The outlook does not specifically account for market events after that date.
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