Key Points
- Microsoft has partnered with the Midwest power grid operator, MISO.
- The goal is to use Microsoft’s technology to manage the massive electricity demand from AI.
- The partnership will help predict outages and plan new transmission lines.
- Energy-intensive AI data centers are pushing U.S. power demand to record highs.
Microsoft is teaming up with the U.S. Midwest’s power grid operator in the latest sign that Big Tech is getting serious about the massive amounts of electricity needed to fuel the artificial intelligence boom. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), which serves 42 million people across 15 states, announced the new partnership on Tuesday.
This collaboration is part of a growing trend. As energy-hungry AI data centers push U.S. power demand to record highs, tech companies are working directly with the power sector to find solutions. Last year, Google partnered with PJM, the nation’s largest grid operator, to use AI to expedite the connection of new energy sources.
In this new deal, MISO will use Microsoft’s technology to make its grid smarter and more efficient. The tools will help predict and respond to weather-related outages, plan new transmission lines, and accelerate other critical operations.
With a more diverse mix of energy sources such as wind and solar, and the continued growth of data centers, grid operators need more advanced tools to keep the lights on.
“Now is the time to partner with organizations that share a common interest in modernizing the grid operations of the future,” said Nirav Shah, an executive at MISO.
Over the past two years, the tech industry has been locking in long-term energy supply deals and offering its own AI expertise to help utility companies maximize their output. This partnership between Microsoft and MISO is another clear example of how the AI revolution isn’t just about software—it’s also about securing the power needed to run it.
