Georgia Power has announced significant changes to its electricity demand forecast, projecting that data center growth will cause demand to triple over the next decade. The utility, which serves the state of Georgia, attributes this surge primarily to the rapid expansion of data centers in the region. In a recent report, Georgia Power stated, ‘Over the past four years, we have seen unprecedented growth in data center development.’ With more than 50 data centers already operational and numerous others in planning stages, Georgia Power predicts that electricity consumption will grow by over 10,000 megawatts by 2034. Georgia Power CEO, Chris Womack, emphasized the importance of addressing this growth, saying, ‘We must prepare our infrastructure for a demand that is unlike anything we have seen in the past.’ The increasing reliance on digital services, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence technologies are driving this demand surge. Additionally, Georgia Power is considering a potential rate increase to cover the costs associated with the heightened energy needs and infrastructure improvements. According to a separate report from the Atlanta Business Chronicle, the utility has not implemented a significant rate hike in over a decade, but the planned infrastructure upgrades could necessitate changes. The company is actively seeking ways to balance energy supply and environmental sustainability while accommodating the growing demand from both data centers and residential customers.
Georgia Power Projects Tripling of Electricity Demand Due to Data Center Growth
