In late July 2025, the Lower 48 states set two consecutive records in electricity demand. On July 28, between 6 and 7 p.m. Eastern Time, use for cooling surges led demand to reach 758,053 megawatts, breaking previous records. That record was eclipsed the very next day, with demand climbing to 759,180 MW, marking a 1.9% increase over the July 2024 peak of 745,020 MW.
According to the EIA’s Short‑Term Energy Outlook, electricity demand is on an upward trajectory, with projected annual growth slightly above 2% in both 2025 and 2026. Demand is expected to rise particularly fast in regions with expanding data centers and manufacturing, such as Texas and Northern Virginia.
