Utility Survey Finds 78% Deploying AI for Interconnection Demand

National Grid Partners said in a press release that 78% of US utility innovation leaders are deploying or moving at least one AI application into operations to manage interconnection demand. The survey collected responses from 134 leaders between May 20 and July 7, 2026.

Among respondents, 74% said load growth from AI data centers is affecting grid reliability. Reliability ranked as a top three priority for 73%, up from 43% in 2025, while the share prioritizing net zero goals fell from 54% to 16%.

Innovation budgets increased for 72% of respondents, but 84% said projects take more than a year to progress from pilots to full rollout. Respondents allocated 59% of innovation spending to incremental improvements and 16% to transformational projects. In addition, 87% said regulatory and rate case frameworks limit returns from innovation, while 83% said residential customers are paying higher electricity bills because of infrastructure costs linked to AI data centers.