Tesla, Google, and Carrier have formed the Utilize coalition with other companies to improve U.S. power grid utilization and potentially save consumers over $100 billion in the next decade. The group highlights that the grid operates at only 53% capacity on average, leading to higher electricity costs. Founding members aim to advocate for policies that unlock idle capacity through technologies like battery storage and virtual power plants.
On March 10, 2026, Tesla, Google, and Carrier announced the launch of Utilize, a new industry coalition aimed at addressing underutilization of the U.S. electric grid. Other founding members include Renew Home, Sparkfund, SPAN, and Verrus. According to a Duke University analysis of 22 regional power systems, the grid operates at just 53% of its total capacity on average. This inefficiency drives up costs because infrastructure is built for rare peak-demand periods, leaving lines idle most of the year.
A Stanford University study supports this, finding that even during peaks, most transmission lines in the Western U.S. carried only 18–52% of capacity, with the majority around 30%. Research indicates that 76 to 215 gigawatts of additional demand could be served on existing systems without exceeding historical peaks. Utilize plans to release a study from The Brattle Group estimating savings exceeding $100 billion over ten years, possibly up to $180 billion.
Colby Hastings, Senior Director of Residential Energy at Tesla, stated, “Battery storage and distributed energy resources are already demonstrating how smarter use of the grid can improve affordability.” He added that with appropriate policy frameworks, these resources can reduce costs while strengthening reliability. Ellen Zuckerman, Google’s Head of Energy Market Development for North and South America, said the company supports Utilize’s efforts to “unlock underused capacity so growth in electricity demand translates into broader affordability and system benefits.”
Tesla’s involvement aligns with its growing energy business, which generated $12.7 billion in revenue in 2025, up 27% year-over-year, and deployed 46.7 GWh of storage. The company operates virtual power plants in California delivering over 100 MW and recently launched a Cybertruck vehicle-to-grid program in Texas using the truck’s 123 kWh battery. Google’s motivations stem from its AI data center expansion, which spent $4.75 billion on energy infrastructure last year and triggered 1.9 GW of clean energy for a Minnesota facility. U.S. data center demand is projected at 75.8 GW in 2026, rising to 134.4 GW by 2030.
Utilize has secured an early policy victory in Virginia with bipartisan-backed SB 621/HB 434, awaiting Governor Abigail Spanberger’s signature. The bill requires major utilities to measure and report grid utilization rates for inclusion in regulatory proceedings. The coalition, described as nonpartisan and state-focused, supports technology-neutral policies including battery storage, demand response, and virtual power plants. Ian Magruder, Utilize’s executive director, and Hakan Yilmaz, Carrier’s President of Carrier Energy and Chief Sustainability Officer, emphasized the need for coordinated action among tech firms, utilities, and policymakers.
