Data centres hungry for power putting 'extraordinary pressure' on Hydro Ottawa
'By the end of this year, we will have received requests to connect that exceed the total amount of power that is used today by residents and businesses within the city of Ottawa,'...
News Desk
Staff Writer
Published
Jun 25, 2026
Source
CBC
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AI Insight:Rapid growth in data centre demand is straining local power infrastructure, posing significant challenges for energy supply and management.
The exponential growth of data centres in the Ottawa region is putting extraordinary pressure on Hydro Ottawa's power grid, with the utility anticipating a significant surge in demand by the end of this year. According to Hydro Ottawa, the requests to connect new data centres will exceed the total power used by residents and businesses within the city. This development poses significant challenges for energy supply and management, as data centres require large amounts of electricity to operate and cool their servers. The strain on the power grid is likely to have far-reaching consequences, including potential power outages and increased energy costs for households and businesses. As the demand for data centre space continues to grow, it is essential for Hydro Ottawa and other stakeholders to develop strategies to manage this growth and ensure a reliable and sustainable energy supply.