Oct 30 (Reuters) - Utility firm Exelon ( EXC ) beat Wall

Street estimates for third-quarter profit on Wednesday, helped

by higher electricity rates.

U.S. electric utilities have been seeking to raise customer

power bills in 2024 to fund infrastructure upgrades as the

country's grid faces extreme weather events and rising demand

from industry electrification and data center expansion.

Utilities are poised to benefit from a surge in demand for

power, driven primarily by the artificial intelligence

technology and data centers and as homes and businesses use more

electricity for heating and transportation.

Exelon ( EXC ) has identified more than 11 gigawatts of potential

data-center demand growth within its service territory, up from

6 GW in the second quarter.

The company said the requested capacity from projects is in

an official phase of engineering with deposits paid, but not yet

in service, as of the third quarter.

Earnings at Exelon's ( EXC ) Commonwealth Edison unit (ComEd), the

largest electric utility in Illinois, rose 8% on higher

distribution rate base and return on regulatory assets.

The Chicago-based company posted adjusted operating earnings

per share of 71 cents for the third quarter, versus analysts'

average estimate of 67 cents, according to data compiled by

LSEG.

Exelon ( EXC ) also said it has filed with the Delaware Public

Service Commission to increase its annual natural gas rates by

$36 million and expects a decision in the first quarter of 2026.

Rate-case proceedings are used to determine the amount that

customers need to pay for electricity, natural gas, private

water and steam services provided by regulated utilities.

The company's overall revenue was at $6.15 billion for the

quarter ended Sept. 30, compared with estimates of $5.85

billion.