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U.S. transmission buildout lags as AI-driven power demand rises

Industry estimates call for about 5,000 miles of new high-voltage lines annually, but additions were 402 miles in 2025.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Energy

OilPrice says U.S. power grids face a growing transmission bottleneck as demand accelerates, noting that building generation near data centers does not replace the need for more grid capacity because electricity routes across the network rather than flowing point-to-point.

The outlet cites transmission experts who argue the industry should add roughly 5,000 miles per year of high-voltage lines to keep up with needs, while additions reached almost 4,000 miles in 2013.

OilPrice also points to recent underbuilding, saying that in 2025 the industry added 402 miles, far below what experts consider necessary.

It adds that before AI-driven load increased sharply, electric reliability organizations and infrastructure engineers had already warned that insufficient transmission additions could harm grid reliability as data center builders move to add large power plants.

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