May 7 (Reuters) - Utility Evergy EVRG.O beat analysts' estimates for first-quarter adjusted profit on Thursday, helped by a recovery in regulated investments, stronger demand and higher large customer revenues.

U.S. electricity demand hit record levels in 2025 and is expected to accelerate further as large technology firms ramp up power usage at fast-growing data centers, with some individual sites using as much energy as an entire city.

"We continued to advance our large customer strategy in the first quarter and are pleased to announce the signing of an electric service agreement for a large customer project in our Kansas Central service territory," said CEO David Campbell.

U.S. utilities are seeking to raise customer power bills, mainly to pay for infrastructure upgrades, as the country's grids face an onslaught of extreme weather and ballooning demand from electrification and data centers.

Evergy provides power to 1.7 million customers in Kansas and Missouri through its operating subsidiaries Evergy Kansas Central, Evergy Metro and Evergy Missouri West.

The company reaffirmed its 2026 adjusted earning per share forecast of $4.14 to $4.34 per share.

It expects annual adjusted profit per share growth to exceed 8% beginning in 2028 and through 2030.

On an adjusted basis, Evergy reported a profit of 69 cents per share for the quarter ended March 31, beating analysts' estimate of 65 cents per share, according to data compiled by LSEG.