July 7 (Reuters) - The U.S. nuclear regulator has

allowed utility Vistra ( VST ) to extend the operation of its

Perry nuclear power plant by an additional 20 years through

2046, the company said on Monday.

The company is currently operating under its initial 40-year

license and had submitted its application to the Nuclear

Regulatory Commission for renewal in 2023.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration expects

electricity consumption to hit record highs in 2025 and 2026,

fueled by surging demand from data centers supporting Big Tech's

AI growth.

The 1,268-megawatt Perry facility is the last of Vistra's ( VST )

six nuclear reactors to secure a license extension, enabling all

of them to operate for a total of 60 years.