This story was originally published on Utility Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Utility Dive newsletter. Southern Company reported 2.3% year-over-year growth in retail electricity sales across its utilities for the first quarter of this year, driven predominantly by data centers. Overall, data centers used 42% more power compared to the first quarter of 2025, according to company officials and Southern’s quarterly report to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The c ...