Guides

Plain-English answers to the questions behind GridCensus's data, each sourced to the agency records and linked to the pages that answer them.

• How long does it take to get grid power for a datacenter?Why grid power sets most datacenter schedules, what the 2025-2026 rule changes at FERC and ERCOT mean for the wait, and how to screen speed to power early.
• ISOs and RTOs: which grid operator serves a datacenter site?The seven US grid operators, the regions outside them, why WECC and SERC are not ISOs, and what the operator means for connecting a datacenter.
• Which states are best for datacenters?How states compare for datacenter siting on power, speed to power, water and local opposition, with GridCensus's September 2026 state scores.