In a survey of 134 innovation leaders, 74% attribute a deterioration in reliability to the growth of AI data centers, and 83% say that the bill goes to individuals.
Between May 20 and July 7, 2026, National Grid Partners surveyed 134 innovation leaders at U.S. utilities. The main result: 74% of them believe that the growth in demand for AI data centers is already weighing on the reliability of the grid.
The shift in priorities is dramatic. Reliability is now in the top three for 73% of respondents, up from 43% last year, while the net-zero target has plummeted from 54% to 16%. On financing, 83% say that infrastructure costs related to AI data centers end up being passed on to residential customers' bills.
The same players are turning to AI to absorb the shock it causes: 78% deploy or industrialize at least one AI application to manage the connection request queue. However, two obstacles return: 84% take more than a year to go from a pilot to a full deployment, and 87% believe that the regulatory framework limits the profitability of their innovation investments.
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