Overview
- APS and SRP recorded new peak loads last Friday, at about 9,063 megawatts and 9,072 megawatts respectively, near the planned summer capacity the utilities filed in April.
- APS says data centers used up to 630 megawatts at peak, roughly 7 percent of its load and about half of the year‑over‑year increase in APS’ peak demand.
- The demand jump was roughly 400–500 megawatts above 2025 levels, an increase equivalent to powering about 65,000–110,000 homes.
- Utilities managed the surge by buying extra generation, tapping the wider Western grid for imports, using diverse supplies such as nuclear, gas, solar and batteries, and bringing new SRP resources online this year.
- Operational strain is colliding with local and policy tensions: APS pulled power for about 8,000 customers to reduce wildfire risk, growth of data centers is drawing local opposition over water and power, and regulators recently repealed some efficiency and renewable rules.