Bill Fehrman

“AEP expects to interconnect 24 gigawatts of new load by 2030 — 18 gigawatts of it data centers, all backed by signed customer agreements — and will raise its five-year capital plan from $54 billion to about $70 billion to serve it: 'Demand for power is growing at a pace I have not seen in my 45-year energy career.'”

Tracking: AEP subsequently raised its capital plan to about $72 billion (Oct 2025) and $78 billion, and its contracted incremental load by 2030 to 63 GW (Q1 2026); the load itself resolves at end-2030.

“Following 7 gigawatts of new load agreements signed during the first quarter, primarily in Ohio and Texas, AEP's incremental load is expected to grow to 63 GW by 2030 — up from 56 GW a quarter earlier, nearly 90% of it data centers — backed by signed agreements with well-capitalized industrial customers, hyperscalers and data centers.”

AEP Texas accounts for 41 GW of the commitments; AEP has since expanded the figure to 69 GW through 2030. Resolves at end-2030.