GridCARE Qualified 5 Gigawatts of Grid Capacity
The firm used artificial intelligence to identify unused power capacity across the United States.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Utilities
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GridCARE has successfully qualified 5 gigawatts of additional load-serving capacity on the U.S. power grid over the past 12 months. The firm uses physics-based artificial intelligence to identify and unlock idle transmission capacity on existing infrastructure.
Why it matters
Utility infrastructure providers currently face long wait times for new power connections, hindering growth for data centers and other sectors. This technology aims to optimize existing grids that often remain underutilized during non-peak periods.
GridCARE qualified 5 gigawatts of capacity, a milestone toward a potential 120 gigawatts unlocked nationwide. This effort could generate $350 billion in value and reduce electricity bills by 7-9 percent.
The players
GridCARE
This firm develops physics-based artificial intelligence to optimize existing power grid infrastructure for increased load capacity.
Southern California Edison
This major electric utility serves parts of Southern California and partnered to identify additional capacity on an Inland Empire circuit.
National Grid
This utility company provides electricity and gas services in parts of the Northeastern United States and the United Kingdom.
Stanford University
This private research university in California published a 2025 study on the limited peak usage of Western transmission lines.
The details
By qualifying flexible load limits under existing reliability standards, the firm safely energizes new sites without requiring new infrastructure builds. Projects include 400 MW in Hillsboro, Oregon, 650 MW in New York, and 20 MW for Southern California Edison in the Inland Empire.
Timeline
December 2025: Stanford University study on transmission usage
May 2026: National Grid discussed project on investor call
October 8, 2026: Power Acceleration Index unveiled in San Francisco
2026: Initial 80 MW of Hillsboro capacity energized
2029: Expected full energization of Hillsboro capacity
Market Landscape
The initiative addresses the chronic underutilization of Western transmission infrastructure, where peak usage has been documented as low as 18 percent. By optimizing existing circuits, GridCARE positions itself to capture market share from traditional infrastructure developers facing gridlock.
Pending regulatory approvals, households could see annual electricity bill savings of $130 to $170. These potential cost reductions result from the increased efficiency of regional power grids.
The takeaway
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being deployed to wring more efficiency out of aging infrastructure without the need for expensive, time-consuming construction projects. Consumers should monitor state utility commission filings for news on potential local electricity price adjustments.
What happens next
The Hillsboro, Oregon data center project is scheduled for full energization of its 400 MW capacity by 2029.
Further reading
Learn more about ongoing energy infrastructure initiatives on our Utilities page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Tedmag.
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Should utilities prioritize optimizing existing grid efficiency over constructing expensive new infrastructure?
