Feb 19 (Reuters) - Evergy ( EVRG ) forecast current-year

profit below Wall Street estimates on Thursday and introduced a

new five-year capital spending plan of $21.6 billion as the

Midwest utility moves to ​meet accelerating electricity demand

from large commercial and ‌industrial customers.

Evergy's ( EVRG ) plan and new large-load agreements reflect a

broader shift among regulated ⁠utilities positioning for

sustained demand growth tied to economic development ⁠and data

center expansion.

The utility had previously announced ‌a capital expenditure

plan ‌of $17.5 billion for the 2025-2029.

The company said it signed electric service agreements ​for

four large customer projects, including ‌two new customers and

expansion of two existing projects, under newly approved large

load power service tariffs ​in Kansas and Missouri.

The tariffs ​require ‌new large customers to pay premium

rates and cover both existing and incremental system costs.

"This in turn will drive ⁠affordability benefits for existing

customers and enhance economic growth in ⁠Kansas and Missouri,"

said CEO David Campbell.

The utilities have been seeking to raise customer power

bills in 2026 to fund infrastructure upgrades, as the country's

electrical grids face extreme weather ⁠and ‌growing demand from

industry electrification and data-center expansions.

Evergy ( EVRG ) expects ‌adjusted profit growth to exceed 8% beginning

in 2028 and ⁠through 2030.

On an adjusted basis, it reported a profit of 42 cents per

share, missing analysts' estimates of 57 cents per share,

according to data compiled by LSEG.

The company forecast 2026 adjusted profit of $4.14 to $4.34

per share, with a midpoint of $4.24, which is below analysts'

average ​estimate of $4.28 per share.

Evergy ( EVRG ) provides power to 1.7 million customers in Kansas and

Missouri through its operating subsidiaries Evergy Kansas

Central, ​Evergy Metro and Evergy ( EVRG ) ‌Missouri West.