Time to Power

Time to power is the elapsed time between securing a data center site and receiving energized grid capacity at the contracted load. In constrained markets this wait now exceeds construction time itself: utility studies, substation builds, and interconnection queues commonly add 2 to 5 years, and some regions quote longer. Developers therefore compete on sites with existing capacity, bring-your-own-power plans, or phased energization, such as 40 MW first with later blocks. Time to power is a better predictor of delivery dates than announced ready-for-service targets, which often slip when the utility schedule moves, as seen at several 2026 campuses in Johor. Buyers compare it with lease commencement dates, and lenders treat it as a key milestone risk.