Goldman Sachs forecasts U.S. data center power demand rising to 66 GW by 2027, benefiting merchant power producers like Vistra.
U.S. data center power demand is projected to surge from 31 gigawatts in 2025 to 66 gigawatts by 2027, driven by artificial intelligence expansion. This growth favors merchant power producers such as Vistra, which operates in competitive wholesale markets and has secured deals with hyperscalers.
Regulated utilities, constrained by capped returns averaging 10%, lack the same upside potential. Meanwhile, independent producers like Vistra stand to benefit from long-term contracts tied to rising power consumption.
Global AI investments may exceed $1 trillion this year, further accelerating demand for power-intensive data centers. Vistra’s fleet of energy assets positions it to capitalize on these trends.