Underground Transmission Considerations for Powering Modern Data Centers

August 12, 2026

New computing facilities are posing unprecedented electricity demand. While underground cable systems offer distinct spatial and aesthetic benefits over traditional overhead lines, continuous heavy loads require specialized thermal and operational planning. Utilities should evaluate connection configuration options and system ampacity factors to optimize reliable power delivery for these critical assets.

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence is fueling unprecedented growth in the construction of data centers. These facilities often have much higher-than-average power requirements that can present a significant challenge for power delivery. This issue is especially acute in rural and suburban locations, where a single data center’s load can dwarf the existing electrical grid capacity and make substantial infrastructure upgrades a necessity. For local utility providers that might be unfamiliar with such high-demand projects, the scale of these upgrades can be a considerable undertaking.

This whitepaper from Burns & McDonnell explains special design challenges to consider when designing an underground power transmission system for data centres and other high-load consumers.