By Scott DiSavino

(Reuters) -U.S. power consumption will hit record highs in 2025 and 2026, the Energy Information Administration said in its short-term energy outlook (STEO) on Tuesday.

The EIA projected power demand will rise to 4,187 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 2025 and 4,305 billion kWh in 2026, up from a record 4,097 billion kWh in 2024.

Those demand increases come in part from data centers dedicated to artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency and as homes and businesses use more electricity and less fossil fuel for heat and transportation.

The EIA forecast power sales in 2025 will rise to 1,508 billion kWh for residential consumers, 1,482 billion kWh for commercial customers, and 1,055 billion kWh for industrial customers.

Those forecasts compare to all-time highs of 1,509

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