Why Entergy (ETR) Is Expanding Its Grid for Meta’s Data Center Boom

Entergy Corporation (NYSE:ETR) is one of the utility stocks riding the 2026 “Reliability Shock.”

The latest relevant development came on April 29, 2026, when Reuters reported that Entergy Corporation (NYSE:ETR) increased its four-year capital spending plan by about 33% to $57 billion, largely to expand energy infrastructure for Meta’s data centers. The agreement includes seven new natural gas-fueled combined-cycle power plants totaling more than 5.2 gigawatts, adding a direct firm-power angle to the AI electricity-demand story. Reuters also said Entergy has another 7-12 GW of potential new data-center customers interested in connecting to its system.

The demand is already showing up in results. Entergy reported first-quarter 2026 earnings of $385 million, or $0.83 per share, compared with $361 million, or $0.82 per share, a year earlier. Adjusted earnings rose to $399 million, or $0.86 per share, from $361 million, or $0.82 per share. Reuters said weather-adjusted retail sales rose 6% from the prior year, helped by higher industrial usage from data centers, metal producers, and transportation customers, while industrial sales grew nearly 15% to 15,895 gigawatt-hours.

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Entergy Corporation (NYSE:ETR) is a New Orleans-based utility serving electric customers across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

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