Core Insights - State-owned German utility Uniper is close to finalizing a deal to purchase green ammonia from India as part of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's upcoming visit to the country [1] Company Summary - Uniper, a state-owned utility in Germany, is actively pursuing a strategic agreement to enhance its green energy portfolio through the acquisition of green ammonia [1]

This story was originally published on Utility Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Utility Dive newsletter. New year, same theme: data centers. The PJM Interconnection’s market monitor is once again blaming data centers for the results of its latest capacity auction. Meanwhile, Texas’ large load queue exploded last year, largely due to — you guessed it! — data centers. Here are those and other numbers that caught our eye in the early days of 2026. ►40% How much reven ...

Core Insights - INNIO Group is supplying technology for a 104MW power plant in Texas to enhance grid stability and support renewable energy integration [1][2] - The project is a collaboration with Greenville Electric Utility System (GEUS) and is expected to be commissioned by mid-2027 [1][2] - The facility will utilize 11 J920 FleXtra engines, each with a capacity of 9.5MW, featuring advanced cooling and emissions-aftertreatment systems [2] Project Details - Construction commenced in early December, with the plant designed to meet peak load demands exceeding 125MW [3] - The J920 FleXtra engine can achieve full load in just two minutes, showcasing its fast-start capabilities [2] - GEUS aims to serve over 17,200 customers in the Greenville area with reliable and low-cost energy generation [3] Strategic Importance - The project is viewed as a significant infrastructure upgrade for the Greenville community, ensuring long-term reliability and cost management [4] - GEUS, the oldest municipally-owned utility in Texas, serves over 16,600 electric customers and is committed to providing dependable service [4]

Group 1 - RWE and Apollo Global Management have successfully closed a partnership transaction for a joint venture aimed at funding power grid upgrades in Germany [1]

Core Insights - America's hyperscalers, including Meta, Microsoft, and Apple, are entering the power trading market to secure electricity for their data centers [1] - Meta aims to incentivize long-term commitments in power-generating capacity through power trading, addressing the cautious investment behavior of power plant developers [2][3] - U.S. power utilities are investing record amounts into transmission and grid connections, but face significant uncertainty regarding future AI-driven power demand [4][5] Industry Developments - The U.S. market is experiencing a peak uncertainty moment, with varying forecasts of AI-driven power demand leading to challenges for utilities [4] - Utilities risk overbuilding capacity if they overestimate future demand, which could lead to increased electricity prices for consumers [6] - The stagnation of power demand in the U.S. ended two years ago as hyperscalers began developing AI solutions and constructing large data centers [6] Financial Projections - The five largest hyperscalers in America are projected to increase their data center spending by 50% to over $300 billion by 2025 [7] - U.S. utilities have committed to adding 116 gigawatts (GW) of large load to their networks, representing approximately 15% of U.S. peak electricity demand in 2024 [7]

Air Canada - Operating revenues for the quarter were $5.77 billion, a decrease of approximately 5% from $6.1 billion in the same quarter last year [1] - The results included a three-day work stoppage by over 10,000 flight attendants in August, leading to more than 3,000 flight cancellations [1] - CEO Michael Rousseau stated that the results met the company's revised estimates, which were adjusted due to the labor disruption during peak summer season, with the estimated cost of the strike at $375 million [2] Fortis Inc. - Fortis reported a third-quarter profit of $409 million, down from $420 million a year ago, with earnings of 81 cents per share compared to 85 cents per share in the same quarter last year [4][7] - Revenue for the quarter was $2.94 billion, an increase from $2.77 billion in the same quarter last year [4][7] - Fortis announced a new five-year capital plan for 2026-2030 totaling $28.8 billion, an increase of $2.8 billion compared to the previous plan [5] Thomson Reuters Corp. - Thomson Reuters reported a profit of US$423 million for the quarter, up from US$301 million a year earlier, with profit per diluted share increasing to 94 cents from 67 cents [9][12] - Revenue rose to US$1.78 billion, up from US$1.72 billion in the same period last year [10][12] - The company acquired Additive AI Inc., a specialist in AI-powered tax document processing, and sold its remaining minority interest in the Elite business [11] Suncor Energy Inc. - Suncor reported a decline in third-quarter profits to $1.62 billion, down from $2.02 billion a year earlier, with profit per share decreasing to $1.34 from $1.59 [14][18] - Operating revenues net of royalties were $6.17 billion, down from $6.32 billion in the same quarter last year [15][18] - Total upstream production reached 870,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, an increase from 828,600 boe/d, while refinery throughput also hit a record of 491,700 barrels per day [15][16] Cameco - Cameco raised its annual dividend to 24 cents per share from 16 cents, despite reporting a small net loss of $158,000 for the quarter, compared to a profit of $7.4 million a year earlier [21] - Revenue for the quarter was $614.6 million, down from $720.6 million [21]

Core Insights - NRG Energy has forecasted standalone core profit for the full year 2026 to exceed its updated range for 2025, driven by increasing power demand [1] - Following this announcement, the utility firm's shares rose by 1% in premarket trading [1] Company Summary - The forecasted profit increase is attributed to surging power demand, indicating a positive outlook for NRG Energy's financial performance [1] Industry Context - The rising power demand reflects broader trends in the energy sector, suggesting potential growth opportunities for utility companies [1]

Core Insights - German utility Uniper has implemented a hedging strategy by selling significant amounts of its future hydropower and nuclear output [1] Company Summary - Uniper has engaged in the sale of its future hydropower and nuclear production as part of a broader risk management approach [1]

Core Insights - Southern Company reported Q3 2025 earnings per share (EPS) of $1.60, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.50 and up from $1.43 in the previous year, driven by investments in state-regulated utilities and customer growth [1][8] - The company achieved revenues of $7.8 billion, a 7.6% increase from Q3 2024, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.5 billion [2][8] - Southern Company maintained its long-term EPS growth rate projection of 5-7% and guided for an EPS of $4.30 for the full year and 54 cents for the December quarter [2] Revenue Breakdown - Wholesale power sales increased by 0.8%, contributing to a rise in retail electricity demand, with total electricity sales up 1.1% year-over-year [3] - Total retail sales improved by 1.1%, with industrial and commercial sales rising by 1.5% and 2.3%, respectively, while residential sales decreased by 0.3% [3] Expense Overview - Operations and maintenance (O&M) costs decreased by 1.1% year-over-year to $1.6 billion, but total operating expenses rose by 6.6% to $5.2 billion, exceeding estimates [4][8] Comparison with Other Utilities - Exelon Corporation reported an EPS of 86 cents, surpassing estimates by 13.2% and showing a year-over-year increase due to improved distribution and transmission rates [5] - American Water Works Company posted an EPS of $1.94, beating estimates by 2.1% and reflecting a 7.8% increase from the previous year, attributed to new rate implementations [7] - IDACORP, Inc. reported an EPS of $2.26, exceeding estimates by 1.3% and improving by 6.6% year-over-year, driven by customer growth and rate changes [10]

Core Insights - Kansai Electric Power Company reported a slight increase in first-half profit for fiscal 2025, supported by improved cost management despite declines in revenue and operating profit [1] Financial Performance - For the six months ended September 30, 2025, consolidated net sales were ¥2.01 trillion, a decrease of 6.0% year-on-year, while operating profit fell by 7.0% to ¥276.6 billion [2] - Ordinary profit decreased by 1.3% to ¥315.0 billion, but net profit attributable to shareholders rose by 1.8% to ¥232.9 billion [2] - Basic earnings per share were ¥209.08, down from ¥256.44 in the previous year, attributed to a larger share base following a stock split [3] Asset and Equity Position - As of September 30, total assets were ¥9.6 trillion, slightly below the March 2025 level, while equity strengthened to ¥3.27 trillion, increasing the equity ratio to 34.0% from 31.8% at the fiscal year's start [4] Dividend Forecast - The company revised its full-year dividend forecast upward to ¥75 per share, comprising an interim dividend of ¥30 and a planned year-end payment of ¥45, up from ¥60 the previous year [4] Future Projections - For the full year ending March 31, 2026, Kansai Electric forecasts consolidated net sales of ¥4.05 trillion, a decrease of 6.6% from FY2024, with operating profit expected to decline by 4.0% to ¥450 billion [5] - Net profit is projected at ¥360 billion, a 14.4% decrease from the prior year, due to lower electricity prices and sluggish demand [5] Industry Context - Japan's power utilities, including Kansai Electric, are experiencing normalization after two years of exceptional earnings driven by fuel cost adjustments and high tariffs during the global energy price surge [6] - With LNG and coal prices stabilizing, utilities are focusing on operational efficiency, nuclear restarts, and long-term investments in decarbonization [6] Strategic Initiatives - Kansai Electric is accelerating investments in renewable and nuclear energy to support Japan's 2050 net-zero goal [7] - The company is also expanding its overseas and digital infrastructure businesses to diversify revenue sources amid a maturing domestic electricity market [7]