# Data Center Power Availability and Timing

Test whether a data center project can get power by the target in-service date before you commit schedule, capital, or customer capacity. Review interconnection timing, upgrade exposure, long-lead equipment, tariff pressure, and resilience constraints in one scorecard.

For data center developers, infrastructure teams, and investors evaluating a specific project.

Can this data center project get power by the target in-service date?

## Example scorecard evidence

Review public project examples, the score dimensions behind the scorecard, and adjacent briefs that show how the work is framed.

### Public project examples

- [Amazon (ADS / AWS) — PECO TSA / Falls Township, PA](/content/solutions/ai-power-and-site-readiness/snapshots/amazon-peco-tsa-phase-1/index.html)
- [Meta — Hyperion (Richland Parish, LA)](/content/solutions/ai-power-and-site-readiness/snapshots/meta-hyperion-richland-parish-la-phase-1/index.html)
- [Microsoft — Wisconsin (Mount Pleasant / Kenosha axis)](/content/solutions/ai-power-and-site-readiness/snapshots/microsoft-wisconsin-mount-pleasant-kenosha-phase-1/index.html)
- [Applied Digital — Ellendale, ND](/content/solutions/ai-power-and-site-readiness/snapshots/applied-digital-ellendale-nd-phase-1/index.html)
- [xAI — Colossus (Memphis / Southaven)](/content/solutions/ai-power-and-site-readiness/snapshots/xai-colossus-memphis-southaven-phase-1/index.html)

### What the scorecard checks

- **Utility power timing**: When utility and interconnection milestones are likely to land relative to the target in-service date.
- **Upgrade and deliverability risk**: Whether network upgrades, congestion, or deliverability constraints are likely to block the requested capacity.
- **Long-lead equipment exposure**: How transformer and switchgear lead times affect the critical path and what procurement actions materially change it.
- **Tariff and resilience pressure**: How tariff structure, demand charges, and grid reliability signals change cost and operating confidence.

## What we test

- utility power timing
- interconnection and upgrade risk
- long-lead electrical equipment exposure
- tariff and resilience constraints

## What the scorecard includes

- a scored view of whether a project can hit the target in-service date
- the main power and schedule risks behind that conclusion
- the gating issues most likely to delay energization

## Power and Timing Scorecard

Can this data center project get power by the target in-service date?

## Preview the variables behind the scorecard

### Key outcome measures

- **Site Readiness Index**: Composite 0-1 score combining schedule, capacity, cost, carbon, and reliability to rank candidate sites.
- **Probability of Hitting In‑Service Date**: Probability (0–1) that the site reaches Commercial Operation Date (COD) by the target date given interconnection, equipment, and permitting risks.
- **Schedule Slippage (Days)**: Expected days late relative to the target in‑service date (v0: clamped to ≥ 0; early/on‑time yields 0).
- **Deliverable Capacity by Target (MW)**: MW expected to be physically deliverable by the target date for continuous operations.
- **Blended Effective Power Rate ($/MWh)**: All‑in effective energy cost including volumetric energy, demand charge conversion, Demand Response (DR) credits, and on‑site Distributed Energy Resources (DER) savings.
- **Expected Emissions Intensity (kgCO₂e/MWh)**: Blended operational carbon intensity after Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)/Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and on‑site Distributed Energy Resources (DER) effects.
- **Reliability Risk Index**: 0–1 proxy index of outage/curtailment risk from grid reliability signals.
- **Total Delay Cost Exposure ($)**: Expected financial impact of schedule slippage (lost revenue, liquidated damages, carrying costs).
- **Renewable Content (%)**: Proxy renewable share for the relevant grid/portfolio.

## Key conditions behind the scorecard

- **Interconnection Queue Wait (Months)**: Estimated remaining time in the interconnection queue for the selected path.
- **Interconnection Complexity Index**: 0-1 index capturing voltage class, network topology, upgrade scope, and deliverability hurdles.
- **Network Upgrade Cost ($)**: Utility/ISO‑estimated share of network upgrade CAPEX attributable to the interconnection.
- **Deliverability Risk Index**: 0-1 risk that requested capacity cannot be delivered at peak due to constraints.
- **Available Grid Capacity (MW)**: Estimated MW of firm capacity available at the point of interconnection by target date.
- **Transformer Lead Time (Months)**: Quoted lead time for required high‑voltage/medium‑voltage transformers.
- **Switchgear Lead Time (Months)**: Quoted lead time for medium‑voltage switchgear and main protective devices.
- **Permitting Risk Index**: 0–1 risk score reflecting zoning fit, environmental review, and Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) workload.
- **Tariff Energy Charge ($/MWh)**: Blended volumetric energy rate for the applicable tariff/Time‑of‑Use (TOU) class.
- **Marginal Emissions Rate (kgCO₂e/MWh)**: Grid marginal emissions intensity for the site’s balancing area.

## Levers that can change the scorecard

- **Expedite Procurement Budget ($)**: Budget set aside to accelerate long‑lead equipment procurement.
- **Transformer Expedite Option Selected**: Whether an expedited transformer procurement option is chosen.
- **Temporary Generation Committed (MW)**: Rental or temporary generation capacity committed to bridge early operations.
- **Battery Storage Committed (MWh)**: Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) energy capacity contracted for the site.
- **On‑Site Solar Capacity Committed (MW)**: Nameplate MW of on‑site Photovoltaic (PV) committed.
- **Renewable Content Target (%)**: Target share of load to be covered by renewables over the commitment period.
- **Demand Response (DR) Enrollment Commitment (kW)**: Proxy for territory-level demand response (DR) enrolled curtailable load (kW).