Big Data, Bigger Demands & Growth Done The PVREA Way

Big Data, Bigger Demands

Many companies are choosing areas served by electric cooperatives for their data centers because of cheaper land, available power, and potential incentives.

Data centers require huge amounts of electricity to operate, which presents new opportunities and challenges for our cooperative.

1) HVAC

Constant cooling is needed to ensure the servers function properly.

2) Servers

Servers run applications and process data 24/7. One server rack can consume enough electricity to power a small home. A large data center can house thousands of server racks.

3) Infrastructure

Data centers often require new electrical infrastructure to meet their power needs. At PVREA, we do all we can to ensure growth pays for growth.

4) On-Site Energy Systems

Generators, solar panels, battery, and other on-site energy systems can supplement grid power, provide backup during outages, and reduce peak demand.

Growth Done The PVREA Way

While Colorado law requires PVREA to serve all electric needs within our service territory, our commitment to reliable, affordable service for all members remains paramount.

Our “growth pays for growth” model requires new large loads, like data centers, to pay the full cost of infrastructure needed to serve them. Those costs are not passed on to other members.

This proven model has helped keep our rates among the lowest in Colorado and our reliability among the best in the nation. We are committed to maintaining this standard as our system grows.

To help protect this member-first approach, we encourage members and community stakeholders to join Cooperative Voices, our legislative advocacy network.

We ask Cooperative Voices advocates to get involved when state or federal policy could impact our ability to ensure growth pays for growth.

Sign up for Cooperative Voices at https://pvrea.coop/cooperative-voices/.