Data Centers Driving 80% of Surge in Southern’s Power Sales

Power company Southern Co. predicts its electricity sales will rise to 6% annual growth from 2025 to 2028, with about 80% of that coming from rapidly proliferating data centers.

The company expects 1 to 2% annual growth in the sale of kilowatt hours this year and next. The increase in sales could reduce rates paid by existing customers, Chief Executive Officer Chris Womack said on an earnings call Thursday. Southern serves 9 million electric and gas customers in the US Southeast.

Electricity demand has spiked across the US, driven in part by new data centers that power artificial intelligence. Other ...