Three 2025 Electric Utility Predictions

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I stumbled onto a great article from T&D World where the author discussed her top three 2025 electric utility predictions.  I know, these end-of-year lists are pretty cliché, but I’m highlighting this one because the author only focused on 3 trends and, because of this, she was able to do a bit of a deeper-than-normal dive on each one.  With that said, I thought I’d provide a summary for today’s post, and I provided the article link below if you want to go directly to the source.

T&D World’s 2025 Electric Utility Predictions

There should be no surprises in this top 3 list, as these 2025 electric utility predictions are exactly as you might imagine.  Click here for the full article or read on for an abbreviated version.

First, artificial intelligence (AI) will continue to spread throughout the industry.  For example, one recent survey of 600 global utility executives revealed that 82% were actively implementing AI.  Specific use cases include, but are not limited to, safety enhancement, cybersecurity, vegetation management, automated damage assessment, asset management, and low-voltage distribution network management.

Second, utilities will need to be innovative to identify ways to manage the upcoming proliferation of data centers.  Already, research indicates that approximately 75% of the 35 largest U.S. electric utilities have reported increased demand from data centers.  Potential innovative solutions to this impending problem include the deployment of grid-enhancing technologies, diversification of generation, new rate structures that would charge more to large energy users, and on-site generation such as microgrids.

Third, undergrounding power lines will become a growing focus.  California-based PG&E is leading the charge in this regard, which makes sense given the wildfire issues in the state.  All told, PG&E has buried over 800 miles of lines in the past 3 years.  Other examples include NextEra (20-year, $1 billion undergrounding plan) and Eversource which is planning to underground an entire substation in Boston!

I hope you enjoyed this list as much as I did.  Big shout out to T&D World for posting these well-thought-out 2025 electric utility predictions!