Energy Demand

When everyone uses more energy at the same time, it puts more stress on the electric grid and requires more expensive electricity to meet the need. To reduce energy use and strain on the grid during peak times, we can adopt habits in our homes.

During the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives’ (IAEC) annual meeting, Mike Partin, president of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, sat down with Leslie Kaufman, IAEC executive vice president and general manager, to discuss important energy topics.

Electric cooperatives are receiving regular requests from companies seeking to build large data centers within their service territories. These requests bring both significant opportunities and major challenges.

America’s peak demand is forecast to grow by 38 gigawatts through 2029 – the equivalent of adding another California-sized state to the nation’s power grid. Learn how electric co-ops are preparing for the future.

Across the U.S., people use a growing amount of electricity at work, home, and with the growth of electric vehicles (EVs), even on the road. The demand for electricity increased by 2.5% in 2024 and is expected to grow by 3.2% this year.