Load factor
Load factor is the ratio of a customer’s average electricity demand to its peak demand over a period, expressed as a percentage. Data centers run close to their peak most of the time, so they have high load factors compared with most commercial users. Utilities value that steady demand, but it also means the grid must supply nearly full capacity around the clock.
The full guide · Power & interconnectionHow Much Power Does a Data Center Need?How much power data centers need by type, from 1–10 MW edge sites to multi-gigawatt AI campuses, and how IT load, PUE and phasing shape the utility request.Where Load factor comes up
- Guides by roleLarge Data Center Loads: What Utilities and Co-ops Look For
- Power & interconnectionElectricity Rates and Power Costs for Data Center Sites
- Site selection by stateData Center Site Selection in Maryland
- Site selection by stateData Center Site Selection in Florida
- Site selection by stateData Center Site Selection in Arizona: APS, SRP, TEP, Water and Heat
- Site selection by stateData Center Site Selection in Kentucky
- Decisions and trade-offsTax Incentives vs. Power Costs: Which Matters More for a Data Center Site?
- Decisions and trade-offsUtility-Owned vs. Customer-Owned Substations for Data Centers