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Faster-than-Expected Data Center Load Growth May Cause Increased Regional Short-term Fossil Fuel Generation and Wholesale Electricity Prices

LCG, March 18, 2026--The EIA released a new "In-depth Analysis" of the potential impact of faster-than-expected near-term growth in data center power demand on power generation and wholesale prices on March 12. The analysis models the lower 48 states through 2027 and compares results to its base case scenario. Key takeaway from this sensitivity analysis is the potential increase in fossil fuels in some regions and potentially a significant increase in wholesale prices in ERCOT.

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Faster-than-Expected Data Center Load Growth May Cause Increased Regional Short-term Fossil Fuel Generation and Wholesale Electricity Prices

LCG, March 18, 2026--The EIA released a new "In-depth Analysis" of the potential impact of faster-than-expected near-term growth in data center power demand on power generation and wholesale prices on March 12. The analysis models the lower 48 states through 2027 and compares results to its base case scenario. Key takeaway from this sensitivity analysis is the potential increase in fossil fuels in some regions and potentially a significant increase in wholesale prices in ERCOT.

Read more

Industry News

New Jersey Utility Has Its Eye on Cinergy

LCG, March 9, 2001New Jersey-based Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. is in "advanced discussions" to acquire Cinergy Corp. of Ohio, according to this morning's edition of the Wall Street Journal.

The paper says the acquisition would cost PSEG more than $5.6 billion in stock plus $2.9 billion in assumption of long-term debt. That works out to a very small premium for Cinergy shareholders who would have to approve the deal.

In an attempt to confirm the deal, the Wall Street contacted PSEG spokesman Paul Rosengren who said "I don't make comments on deals that may or may not be under discussion."

Cinergy chairman and chief executive James Rogers could be a sticking point in a merger with PSEG. He is known to enjoy being top man and would want to run the combined companies, but would have to wait in the wings for perhaps as long as five years.

A former deputy general counsel for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Rogers has proved adept at coping with changes in the electric market and would like the chance to run a bigger company. As long ago as 1996, musing about "convergence" among utilities, he asked metaphorically "Cinergy-Sprint? Why not?"

In the deal envisioned by the paper, Cinergy would take a back seat, even though it is the larger company in terms of revenues. PSEG would likely have eight of the 14 seats on the board and E. James Ferland, PSEG's chairman, president and CEO would run the show.

Now, if the transaction were structured so that Rogers were chairman and chief executive and Ferland were chairman emeritus, that would be something else.

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