California-based tech company GridCARE is advancing AI-enabled systems to establish a national benchmark for how much more energy the existing grid could deliver and what that capacity is worth.

The company unveiled its proprietary Power Acceleration Index this month to estimate these exact metrics, projecting that up to 120 GW of additional load-serving capacity could be unlocked nationwide, creating up to $350 billion in value. According to a company release, GridCARE has already detailed that it has qualified 5 GW of additional capacity across the U.S. over the past 12 months in partnership with six U.S. utilities.

Four of the six utilities that took part in the initial research effort were Portland General Electric (PGE), National Grid, Southern California Edison (SCE) and South Carolina utility Santee Cooper.

While GridCARE notes that actual capacity at any given site still depends on network- and site-specific studies, deployment data across its utility partners highlights progress.

AI index system impacts on utilities

The tech company’s first evaluated project with PGE in Hillsboro, Oregon, was approved for over 400 MW of data center capacity, years ahead of the utility’s original schedule after being initially stuck on a seven-year waitlist. At least 80 MW was determined to be made available for data centers in 2026 in the Hillsboro market, with the rest to be energized by 2029.

In New York, GridCARE evaluated for National Grid that 650 MW of existing capacity was available for grid interconnection for large energy-user customers. This enabled streamlined and accelerated interconnection for data center customers in New York for the utility that delivers electricity and natural gas to more than 20 million people across New York and Massachusetts.

Southern California Edison teamed up with GridCARE to reportedly establish the first utility in California to use physics-based AI technology. SCE leveraged GridCARE's resources to qualify up to 20 MW of additional capacity that would otherwise have been considered constrained on its grid.

In South Carolina, GridCARE is working with Santee Cooper to qualify large-load capacity on its system in an effort to better utilize its existing infrastructure.

“Traditional assessments showed that adding load at certain locations on our system would require lengthy, capital-intensive infrastructure upgrades,” said Chris Wagner, senior director of technical services at Santee Cooper. “Partnering with GridCARE is enabling us to uncover flexible solutions to allow near-term capacity growth while maintaining grid reliability and advancing South Carolina’s economic development.”

Maximizing existing infrastructure amid surging rates

This optimization approach comes at a critical time for energy affordability. Utility research firm PowerLines outlined in its Utility Bills Are Rising: Q3 2026 report that utilities have requested $23.1 billion in electric and gas rate increases during the first three quarters this year as colder months approach and household energy costs remain a growing concern. In the third quarter alone, $4.5 billion in rate increase requests were filed, marking the highest Q3 on record.

PowerLines noted that utility Jersey Central Power & Light requested the single biggest rate request, which asked regulators for a $700 million increase that includes a rise in base distribution rates and delayed recovery of previously incurred storm costs.