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Data centers accounted for 4% of U.S. electricity usage two years ago, with projections indicating this will triple by 2028. Utility Dive's Hari Vasudevan highlights the strain on the U.S. power grid from increasing data center demand, particularly driven by AI.

In response, Georgia regulators implemented rules in summer 2025 to protect residential customers from rising costs. Vasudevan argues for the adoption of AI to transition the power grid from a 20th-century reactive model to a resilient system.

He emphasizes collaboration between utilities and tech companies through dynamic load management and shared risks to mitigate impacts on ratepayers. Since 1980, extreme weather events have caused $455 billion in storm damage in the U.S., with a significant portion occurring in the last five years. Vasudevan's advocacy is informed by his experience founding Think Power Solutions and KYRO AI, focusing on improving efficiencies in electric utility operations.