As electricity demand from data centers continues to surge, a persistent question has dogged the industry: Are residential ratepayers footing the bill for massive tech infrastructure? According to Amazon Web Services (AWS) and an independent study it commissioned, the answer is a definitive no. As a guest on The POWER Podcast, Mandy Ulrich, senior manager of energy and water for Americas East at AWS, outlined the company’s energy strategy and discussed findings from a study by Energy and Environmental Econ ...

Core Insights - The Federal Reserve has reduced interest rates by 25 basis points, bringing the federal funds rate to a target range of 3.5% to 3.75% [1] - The transition in leadership at the Federal Reserve in 2026 introduces uncertainty regarding future interest rate policies [4][5][8] Consumer Staples and Utilities Sector - Stocks in the Zacks Consumer Staples and Utilities sectors are recommended due to their lower volatility amid current market uncertainty [2][9] - Notable consumer staples stocks include Monster Beverage (MNST) and Mama's Creations, Inc. (MAMA), both rated Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) [2][11] - Utilities stocks such as Dominion Energy (D), Ameren Corporation (AEE), and Sempra Energy (SRE) hold Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) and are expected to perform well [2][11] Low-Beta Stocks - The highlighted stocks are categorized as low-beta stocks, indicating they are less volatile compared to the broader market [3][12] - These stocks are projected to show earnings growth in 2026, supported by favorable Zacks Ranks [3] Individual Stock Performance - **Monster Beverage**: - Beta of 0.48, long-term earnings growth of 16.81%, and 2026 sales estimate of $9 billion reflecting a growth of 9.48% [16][17] - **Mama's Creations**: - Beta of 0.79, long-term earnings growth of 4.35%, and 2026 sales estimate of $218.2 million reflecting a growth of 26.49% [18][19] - **Dominion Energy**: - Beta of 0.70, long-term earnings growth of 10.26%, and 2026 sales estimate of $16.48 billion reflecting a growth of 5.14% [20][21] - **Ameren Corporation**: - Beta of 0.57, long-term earnings growth of 8.52%, and 2026 sales estimate of $9.71 billion reflecting a growth of 6.33% [22][23] - **Sempra Energy**: - Beta of 0.73, long-term earnings growth of 7.33%, and 2026 sales estimate of $14.74 billion suggesting growth of 8.5% [24][25]

Core Insights - Xcel Energy employees, contractors, and retirees contributed over $14 million and nearly 60,000 volunteer hours in 2025 to support charitable organizations and causes [1] - The company's Foundation increased its giving impact by investing nearly $5 million this year [1] Contribution Details - Total contributions included over $14 million in financial support [1] - Volunteer efforts amounted to nearly 60,000 hours [1] - The Foundation's investment for the year was nearly $5 million [1]

Core Insights - CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CNP) is focused on systematic investments to enhance its infrastructure, improve transmission and distribution networks, upgrade the grid, and expand its renewable energy portfolio to provide clean energy to customers [1] - The company's long-term earnings growth rate is projected at 8.86% over the next three to five years [1] Tailwinds - Rising electricity consumption from residential and commercial sectors, driven by the electrification of transportation and buildings, as well as the growth of AI-based data centers, is increasing demand for utility services, leading to higher sales for CenterPoint Energy [2] Capital Investment Plan - CenterPoint Energy has a long-term capital investment plan of $65 billion for the period 2026-2035 aimed at modernizing the grid system, which includes upgrading underground distribution lines and installing self-healing automation devices to enhance grid resilience and reliability [3] - These investments are expected to reduce the frequency and duration of outages while lowering operating costs [3] Renewable Energy Expansion - The company is expanding its energy portfolio by adding renewable and clean energy sources, targeting approximately 1,000 megawatts (MW) of wind and solar generation capacity by 2026 [4] - Additionally, CenterPoint aims to add 200 MW each of wind and solar resources by 2030, with a potential need for an additional 400 MW of wind resources by 2032 [4] Headwinds - Tariffs imposed by the U.S. government on imports, including solar panels, pose a significant threat to the company's solar project development, potentially increasing costs and impacting the financial viability of projects [5] Price Performance - Over the past year, CNP shares have increased by 20.3%, although this growth lags behind the industry's growth of 21.1% [6] Zacks Rank & Comparisons - CenterPoint Energy currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), while competitors such as Dominion Energy, Inc. (D), NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE), and OGE Energy Corp. (OGE) have better rankings with Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [9] - These competitors have delivered average earnings surprises of 12.72%, 4.39%, and 10.45% over the last four quarters, respectively [9]

Key Takeaways DUK's regulated utility structure provides stable, predictable revenues and approved returns on investments.DUK plans to invest $190-$200B over the next decade, with most spending focused on clean energy transition.DUK expects adjusted EPS growth of 5-7% through 2029, supported by efficient cost recovery.Duke Energy (DUK) benefits from operating primarily as a regulated utility because regulation provides stable and predictable revenues. Regulators allow the company to earn approved returns on ...

Core Viewpoint - Utility firm PG&E Corp is actively working to assess a transformer fire in San Francisco and restore power to affected customers safely [1] Group 1 - PG&E Corp's crews are engaged in assessing the situation following a transformer fire [1] - The company is focused on restoring power to customers impacted by the incident [1]

Accessible version Investment Grade Utilities Utilities and Power Weekly Last week's best and worst performers IG Utilities performed in line with the market last week returning 0.3%. Last week's best performing HoldCo credits were Dominion Energy Inc 4.60% Sr Unsecured notes due 2049 (+1.2%) & American Water Capital Corp 4.30% Sr Unsecured notes due 2042 (+1.2%) and the worst performing HoldCo credits were Southern Co. 6.375% Jr Subordinated notes due 2055 (-0.7%) & NextEra Energy Capital Holdings Inc 6.75 ...

Group 1: Company Overview - PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG) is a holding company based in Oakland, California, and is the parent of Pacific Gas and Electric Company, which provides energy service to approximately 16 million people across a 70,000-square-mile area in Northern and Central California [7]. Group 2: Financial Performance and Analyst Ratings - Morgan Stanley lowered the price target on PG&E Corporation to $20 from $21 while maintaining an Equal Weight rating, indicating that utility performance will be significantly influenced by data centers and growth potential in 2026 [2]. Group 3: Technological Advancements - PG&E announced the successful launch of its Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) and Asset Health Monitoring (AHM) technology demonstration, which utilizes advanced sensors and real-time analytics to enhance the monitoring and utilization of transmission lines [3]. - The DLR technology allows for dynamic calculation of line capacity based on live weather data, enabling more electricity to flow through existing lines without the need for new infrastructure [5]. - By testing DLR and AHM tools, PG&E aims to modernize the grid, unlock unused capacity, improve reliability, and support renewable energy, potentially lowering costs for customers [6]. Group 4: Strategic Initiatives - PG&E and its partners have completed hardware field installations and vendor dashboard setups, moving the project into trial deployment across all technologies, which is part of a broader strategy to expand and upgrade substations and transmission lines [4].

转自：四川在线 高珩瑞 四川在线记者 李欣忆 12月28日，随着盐源500千伏变电站扩建工程顺利带电运行，四川电网2025年迎峰度冬8项重点工程全部建成投运，为全省冬季电力可靠供应和经济社会高质 量发展注入强劲动能。 据预测，今年迎峰度冬期间，四川电网最大用电负荷约5700万千瓦，同比增长11.6%。为应对用电高峰，国网四川电力提前谋划、科学部署，配强施工力 量，高效推进8项重点工程建设。这批工程累计新建输电线路约747公里，新增变电容量638万千伏安，提升清洁能源汇集能力约166万千瓦，增强各级电网供 电能力227万千瓦。 宜宾丘陵220千伏输变电工程俯拍图。（国网宜宾供电公司供图） 其中，成都东1000千伏特高压变电站500千伏配套工程、盐源500千伏变电站扩建工程等4项500千伏工程，优化了主干电网结构，增强了清洁能源外送能力。 巴中曾口、内江迎祥等4项220千伏工程则进一步提升了区域电网供电可靠性，精准满足不同地区的冬季用电需求。 "盐源500千伏变电站扩建工程作业繁忙期恰逢雨季，我们紧盯气象信息，抢抓停雨窗口期完成施工关键环节，保障工程如期投运。"工程业主项目经理陈天 才介绍，"工程新增变电容量20 ...

Core Viewpoint - Entergy Corporation (ETR) is transitioning from being perceived as a stable but unexciting regulated utility to a company with growth potential, attracting a new type of investor focused on long-term income generation and growth [1]. Summary by Relevant Categories Company Overview - Entergy Corporation has historically been viewed as a steady utility, appealing to investors primarily for its stability rather than growth [1]. Investment Strategy - The company is now attracting investors who are building resilient, income-generating portfolios with a long-term growth mindset, indicating a shift in investor interest [1]. Market Position - The changing perception of Entergy suggests that it may be entering a phase where growth opportunities are becoming more prominent, potentially enhancing its attractiveness to a broader range of investors [1].