CenterPoint Energy, the electricity and gas utility that supplies our Houston data centers, has confirmed our designation as a non-residential critical load customer. In essence, this means that the data center is now prioritized alongside other vital infrastructure in the event of an interruption to power supplies.
What is a critical load customer?
Under current rules, data centers that are relied upon by the likes of airports, fire stations, police stations and hospitals are given priority response and priority restoration, should an external event cause a serious interruption to the supply of electricity or gas. So, if a hurricane were to take out power supplies for weeks on end, power would first be returned to Centerpoint Energy’s critical load customers.
In the event of a natural disaster, there is the potential for power to be cut for an extended period of time, during which data centers would need to use generators to keep customers online.
Center Point’s Energy’s assurance that TRG Datacenters power critical infrastructure and are therefore a critical load customer, means that our power would be switched back on as a matter of urgency. Depending on the severity of the situation, this could mean that our power would be restored days or weeks before that of other businesses in the area.
TRG Datacenters recognised as a critical load customer
Energy regulator the Public Utility Commission of Texas determined our data center to be in accordance with its Substantive Rules § 25.497(a), and that’s why it’s been designated as such on the premise account with CenterPoint Energy.
Under these rules, a “critical load public safety customer” is defined as “loads for which electric service is considered crucial for the protection or maintenance of public safety; including but not limited to hospitals, police stations, fire stations, critical water and wastewater facilities, and customers with special in-house life-sustaining equipment.”
A robust and reliable electricity supply is of course a necessity for data centers like ours, so we’re delighted that Center Point’s Energy has recognised the importance of the work done at our Houston data center and has announced its intention to protect our electricity supplies – no matter what.
What does this mean for our customers?
This is a money can’t buy accreditation, and it’s one that we’re pleased to be able to share with our customers.
Priority restoration will allow us to keep our data center customers online even in the most difficult circumstances, ensuring that we can continue to offer the 100% uptime track record we’ve become known for over the past 20 years.
Priority response and restoration, combined with our strategic positioning in highly-vetted locations, allows us to provide our customers with complete peace of mind.
With TRG Datacenters, you know that your critical infrastructure is safely hosted in the most future-proofed data center around.
Get in touch to find out more
If you’d like to know more about priority response and what this means for your business, don’t hesitate to contact our team. We’re here to answer any questions you might have.
