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1h ago

PG&E Sets $73 Billion Grid Overhaul Through 2030 to Power AI Data Centers

CAISO sees peak demand approaching 53,000 megawatts by 2030, signaling the load growth PG&E says its plan must accommodate.

Source: PG&E
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Overview

  • PG&E detailed a through-2030 transmission program aimed at serving roughly 10 gigawatts of new data-center load.
  • The plan aligns with ongoing wildfire risk work, including nearly 700 miles of proposed undergrounding and 500 miles of additional safety upgrades in the 2026–2028 filing.
  • Under SB 254, PG&E said its share of the $18 billion Wildfire Fund Continuation Account will drop to 47.85% from 64.20%, with utilities gaining a right of first refusal on subrogation claims.
  • The utility framed the investment against an AI-driven demand surge, as the EIA projects record U.S. electricity consumption in 2025 and 2026.
  • Industry reporting notes that single hyperscale AI campuses can draw city-scale power, intensifying pressure on systems balancing renewable variability and wildfire risks.