Nov 4 (Reuters) - Exelon Corp ( EXC ) saw a 12% rise in

demand from potential data center customers in the third quarter

as the major U.S. electric utility pushes to change state laws

barring it from developing new power plants, its executives said

on Tuesday.

Big Tech's artificial intelligence expansion, which

requires energy-intensive server warehouses known as data

centers, is driving up U.S. electricity consumption and sending

power companies scrambling to meet the demand.

The amount of data-center customers seeking to connect to

Exelon's ( EXC ) system, which spans 20 states largely in the Midwest

and Mid-Atlantic regions, had grown to 19 gigawatts in the

three-month period ended September 30. Nineteen gigawatts is

enough to power more than 14 million homes.

Exelon ( EXC ) and other regulated U.S. electric utilities have

recently proposed building and operating their own power plants.

Utilities in deregulated states are allowed to own power lines

but not power generation.

"We stand ready to work with our states as they seek

opportunities to address growing energy security needs in a

manner that fits their goals," Exelon ( EXC ) CEO Calvin Butler said in

an earnings call with investors.

Exelon ( EXC ) on Tuesday reported a third-quarter profit that beat Wall

Street estimates, helped by higher rates for electricity and

lower storm recovery costs.

The company said all its utilities delivered year-over-year

earnings growth in the quarter.

The gains were driven primarily by higher regulated distribution

and transmission rates, fewer storm-related disruptions than a

year ago and tax benefits at some of the company's subsidiaries.

Facing a double-hit from climate change-fueled weather

disruptions and the explosive growth of data centers driving

electricity demand to record levels, U.S. electric utilities

have been pushing to pass rising costs onto consumers through

higher power bills.

Earnings at Exelon's ( EXC ) PECO unit, Pennsylvania's largest electric

and natural gas utility, more than doubled to $250 million

during the third quarter.

The company reported overall third-quarter revenue of $6.71

billion, compared with $6.15 billion in the year-earlier period.

The company reaffirmed its full-year 2025 adjusted operating

profit forecast of $2.64 to $2.74 per share. Analysts were

expecting $2.69 per share, according to data compiled by LSEG.

The Chicago-based company posted adjusted operating earnings of

86 cents per share for the third quarter, compared with

analysts' average estimate of 78 cents per share.

Exelon ( EXC ) shares were down about 1% at $45.73 in early afternoon

trading on the Nasdaq.