Interactive Power Map for Data Centers, NEF, Inc.

NEF, Inc. has designed a Power Map that plots the cost of electricity in cents-per-kilowatt hour by state. You can click on a state to view its power costs and Data Centers.

Data Centers are the largest users of electricity in the United States, consuming about 10% of the total production of electricity. Power requirements for this industry are rising every year due to the increased volume of Internet traffic and the growing popularity of online video and other media. As servers and switches become more dense, the need for air conditioning rises. On average, the cost for electricity is about 25% of the total IT budget for Data Centers.

Many Data Centers will have to locate in the next few years as costs for electricity in some states rise. If Data Centers relocate outside of the United States in an area with lower power costs, our country could lose its leadership role for the World Wide Web.