Oct 31 (Reuters) - Dominion Energy ( D ) on Friday beat

third-quarter profit estimates, helped by increased power demand

in its Virginia and South Carolina segments.

A surge in artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency data

centers, combined with the accelerating electrification of homes

and businesses, is expected to push U.S. power demand to record

levels in 2025 and 2026, according to the U.S. Energy

Information Administration.

The company on Tuesday said it expects power demand from

data centers to double over the next decade and a half. Data

centers now account for 27% of the utility's sales in Virginia.

Adjusted operating earnings from Dominion's Virginia segment

rose 2.5% to $679 million in the third quarter, and that from

the South Carolina segment rose over 14% to $109 million.

Quarterly revenue was $4.53 billion, up from $3.94 billion a

year ago.

However, company's interest expenses rose over 30% to $527

million in the third quarter.

Dominion narrowed its full-year operating earnings guidance

to between $3.33 per share and $3.48 per share, from a prior

range of $3.28 per share to $3.52 per shares, and expects

results to land at or above the midpoint, assuming normal

weather for the rest of the year.

The utility's operating earnings on an adjusted basis was

$1.06 per share for the three months ended September 30,

compared with analysts' average estimate of 95 cents per share,

according to data compiled by LSEG.