Feb 12 (Reuters) - Eversource Energy ES.N posted a rise in fourth-quarter profit on Thursday, lifted by stronger results across its gas business and the absence of hefty one-time charges that had weighed on year-earlier earnings.

U.S. electricity use hit record highs in 2025 and is expected to keep rising in 2026, as AI and crypto data centers expand and more homes and businesses use more electricity for heat and transportation.

Eversource's year-earlier results were heavily hit by large one-time charges, including about $298 million after-tax loss tied to the then pending sale of its Aquarion water unit and hefty losses from the sale of its offshore wind investments.

In November, Connecticut regulators rejected the company's proposal to sell its water utility business in a deal valued at $2.4 billion.

During the quarter, Eversource's natural gas segment earned $123.6 million compared to $103.4 million last year.

The utility forecasts 2026 profit between $4.80 per share and $4.95 per share. Analysts expect full-year profit to be $4.97 per share, according to data compiled by LSEG.

The company said it expects its long‑term earnings per share growth rate to remain in the 5% to 7% range through 2030.

It also raised its five-year capital investment plan to $26.5 billion, up from a prior $24.2  billion, driven largely by higher spending on electric and natural gas distribution infrastructure.

The company said it expects to raise $800 million to $1.1  billion in equity over 2026–2030, excluding routine issuances under its dividend reinvestment and compensation programs.

Eversource, which serves about 4.6 million electric, natural gas and water customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, reported net income of $421.3 million, or $1.12 per share, for the fourth quarter, up from $72.5 million, or 20 cents per share, a year earlier.

(Reporting by Sumit Saha in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore)

((Sumit.Saha@thomsonreuters.com;))