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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

Ratepayers to Pay for Stranded Assets in Texas

LCG, Feb. 4, 2004--The extensive building of new power plants in Texas has rendered many older plants less profitable than they would otherwise be, but according to the state's 1999 deregulation law, the impact on utilities will be reduced through stranded asset charges on consumers' electricity bills.

The amounts of such charges will be greater than utility commissioners or lawmakers anticipated, and stem in part from the fact that little surplus power generated within the state can be exported to neighboring regions.

Stranded asset charges are essentially calculated as the difference between plants' book value and their market value, which are expected to be between $4 billion and $5 billion for CenterPoint Energy Inc., originally Houston Power & Light. This averages approximately $1,000 per customer around Houston. The charges will mean that consumers will not receive refunds as had been anticipated by the Public Utility Commission of Texas in 2001. In the case of TXU Corp., however, a 2002 settlement of $1.3 billion has limited the amounts to be paid by ratepayers for older plants.

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