EIA projects US electricity demand will reach 4,244-4,271 billion kWh in 2026 and 4,381-4,397 billion kWh in 2027, with data centers and crypto mining fueling growth.
The US is about to consume more electricity than it ever has. The Energy Information Administration's Short-Term Energy Outlook projects that national power demand will shatter records in both 2026 and 2027. The country hasn't seen electricity demand growth like this since the early 2000s.
According to the EIA, US electricity demand hit an unprecedented 4,195 billion kWh in 2025. That record won't last. The agency forecasts demand climbing to between 4,244 and 4,271 billion kWh in 2026. By 2027, that figure is expected to reach approximately 4,381 to 4,397 billion kWh, based on the April through June 2026 STEO.
The commercial sector is outpacing every other electricity-consuming segment. Data centers are the main reason. The EIA specifically calls out AI applications and cryptocurrency mining as core growth factors. Texas and the mid-Atlantic regions are bearing the heaviest load of new data center buildouts.
Renewable energy sources are projected to make up 25 to 27% of the generation mix by 2027. Coal's share is expected to fall to around 15%. Natural gas remains the workhorse of American power generation, projected to hold steady at approximately 40%.
For crypto miners, the demand surge means tighter competition for power. AI data centers and mining operations increasingly compete for the same capacity. When a hyperscaler like Microsoft or Google locks up hundreds of megawatts for a new AI training facility, that capacity is unavailable to miners. The EIA projects this competition will intensify through 2027.
Mining margins, already compressed after the April 2024 halving, face additional pressure if electricity demand grows faster than new generation comes online. Miners with long-term fixed-rate power contracts or direct access to renewable generation are less exposed to spot price volatility than those buying at market rates.
State-level regulation adds another layer. New York imposed a moratorium on certain crypto mining operations in 2022. Other states could follow, pushed by demand projections that are becoming harder to ignore.
The EIA's outlook covers the period through 2027. The next update is due in July.
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