May 8 (Reuters) - PPL Corp ( PPL ) on Friday underscored

rising data-center power demand, citing a strong pipeline of

requests and future load growth, as it narrowly beat

first-quarter profit estimates, helped by higher retail rates in

Kentucky.

U.S. electricity demand hit record levels in 2025 and is

expected to accelerate further as Big Tech firms ramp up power

usage at fast-growing data centers.

* Executives on a post-earnings call said PPL had active

requests for nearly 12 gigawatts of data-center demand.

* They expect about 3.5 GW of new load by 2032, adding

that advanced planning projects rose 12% to 28.3 GW.

* For the quarter ended March 31, PPL posted an adjusted

profit of 63 cents per share, exceeding analysts' estimate of 62

cents, according to data compiled by LSEG.

* Quarterly earnings at its Kentucky segment rose 16.7% to

35 cents per share.

* CEO Vincent Sorgi said PPL remains on track to spend $5.1

billion in infrastructure spending in 2026, to modernize its

electric and gas networks and adding new generation capacity in

Kentucky, while maintaining affordable electricity.

* U.S. utilities are pushing to raise electricity rates to

pay for infrastructure upgrades, raising concerns over inflated

bills for consumers, as power grids come under growing pressure

due to extreme weather and rising demand tied to industrial

electrification and expansion of data centers.

* PPL reached a settlement in Pennsylvania with most

intervening parties in its base-rate case, with administrative

law judges recommending approval and a final commission decision

expected by end of the second quarter, with new rates effective

July 1.

* The company reported operating revenue of $2.77 billion,

beating analysts' estimates of $2.66 billion.