The U.S. nuclear fleet is attracting growing attention as a power source for artificial intelligence and data centers, and Citigroup analysts say regulated utilities such as Duke Energy and Southern Company are the best way to play the trend. Data centers are expected to drive 31 gigawatts of incremental power demand through 2030, according to Citi. That will in turn drive efforts to increase utilization of the existing U.S.
The tax credit effectively serves as a structural price floor that can provide revenue stability by preventing downside losses in a volatile market, according to Citi. Regulated utilities such as Duke Energy and Southern Company can pass this on to customers through a reduced bill or reinvest the cash flow from the tax credits on existing or future capital expenditures.