Oct 31 (Reuters) - Utility firm Southern Co ( SO )

topped Wall Street estimates on Thursday, buoyed by increased

electricity sales and residential customer additions.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts

record-high power demand in 2024 and 2025, driven by growing

artificial intelligence needs and data center expansion.

The Atlanta, Georgia-based company noted a 10% rise in usage

by existing commercial data centers for the quarter compared to

2023.

This surge in demand from energy-intensive AI data

centers has reinvigorated the U.S. power industry, sparking a

wave of deals and regulatory discussions over expansion costs.

The company experienced a 1.1% increase in kilowatt-hour

sales, led by industrial customers, which offset a 0.4% hit from

Hurricane Helene in the quarter.

Southern Company ( SO ), the second-largest U.S. utility by

customer base, serves six states: Alabama, Georgia, Illinois,

Mississippi, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Third-quarter operating revenue rose 4% to $7.27 billion,

with 19,000 new residential customers added.

The company raised its full-year earnings per share estimate

to $4.05, the upper end of its previous $3.95-$4.05 range, ahead

of analysts' $4.03 estimate.

For the quarter ended September 30, Southern reported an

adjusted profit of $1.43 per share, beating analyst estimates of

$1.34 per share, according to data compiled by LSEG.