Shares of power-plant owners climbed after the largest US electric grid expedited its schedule for connecting data centers directly with energy producers. The move capitalizes on surging electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence and cloud computing.

The grid operator's accelerated timeline allows technology giants to secure dedicated power supplies more quickly, bypassing typical interconnection queues. For power companies, this opens a new avenue for stable, long-term contracts that can underpin revenue growth.

Investors reacted swiftly, pushing utility and independent power producer stocks higher. The decision signals a regulatory tilt toward prioritizing data center energy availability, potentially altering how the grid plans for future capacity additions.

This development strengthens the bond between Big Tech and power generators. Companies with available capacity may capture the most value as data center demand accelerates faster than anticipated.