The Numbers Behind the Surge
The demand is real and it’s documented. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the United States is projected to see the largest increase in data center electricity consumption of any region through 2030 as AI workloads, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure continue to expand. At the same time, electric vehicle adoption is driving growth in charging infrastructure across the country, adding new electrical loads and increasing the need for power distribution. Together, these trends are creating more electrical construction, more temporary power requirements, and ultimately more cable to route, protect, and manage safely.
Three Forces Driving It
- AI and data centers. The compute boom needs power delivered at a scale the grid hasn’t seen, which means new facilities, new electrical rooms, and constant fit-out work.
- EVs and charging. Every charging depot and electrified fleet yard is a new electrical install with its own power distribution.
- Industrial electrification. Plants are swapping combustion processes for electric ones, adding circuits and load across facilities that already exist.
Why It All Lands On Cable Management
These look like different industries, but they share one challenge: delivering more power safely. More electricity in a facility means more cable to route, protect, organize, and maintain. Whether it’s a new data center, an EV charging depot, or an electrified manufacturing plant, temporary and maintenance power often introduce flexible cords into areas where people and equipment operate every day. As electrical demand grows, cable management becomes increasingly important for both safety and operational efficiency.
Where Cord Reels Fit
Permanent power runs through busways, PDUs, and conduit. For the temporary and maintenance power every one of these projects generates, a power cord reel keeps the cord off the floor, pulls out only as far as the job needs, and retracts cleanly. That means fewer trip hazards, fewer damaged cords, and an easier space to keep compliant.
It’s a small piece of a very big trend, but it’s the piece a lot of crews touch every day. The goal isn’t simply storing cable. It’s delivering power where work needs to happen while keeping cords protected, organized, and out of walkways.
If You're Outfitting A Data Center or Large Electrical Build
If you’re on the crew wiring a new facility, the cable challenge shows up in the temporary and maintenance power: extension cords and drop cords running through electrical rooms, service corridors, staging areas, and every spot the permanent power distribution doesn’t reach yet. Keeping those cords off the floor is what keeps the space walkable, keeps cords from getting pinched or run over, and keeps the site inspection-ready.
For the practical side of this, see our guide to cable management for data centers and large electrical installs.
As data center power demand increases, so does the need to safely deliver power during construction, commissioning, maintenance, and facility upgrades. That means more temporary power, more supporting electrical infrastructure, and ultimately more cables that must be managed safely.
Quick Answers
How much electricity do data centers use? About 415 terawatt-hours in 2024, roughly 1.5% of the world’s electricity. The IEA projects that more than doubles to around 945 TWh by 2030 as AI compute grows.
Why is data center power demand growing so fast? AI is the biggest driver. The compute boom needs power at a scale the grid hasn’t seen, which means new facilities, new electrical rooms, and constant fit-out work, alongside EV charging and industrial electrification.
Why is cable management important in data centers? As data center power demand grows, so does the amount of power and data cabling needed to support construction, maintenance, and ongoing operations. Effective cable management helps reduce trip hazards, protect cords from damage, improve access to temporary power, and support safer, more organized facilities.
What is cable management in a data center? Routing, protecting, and organizing power and data cabling so it stays accessible and out of the way. It covers the permanent infrastructure, such as power distribution equipment and structured data cabling, as well as the temporary and maintenance power around a build, where loose cords can become hazards.
What kind of reel is used for temporary power on a jobsite? A power cord reel keeps the temporary and maintenance cord off the floor, pays out only as far as the job needs, and retracts cleanly, reducing trip hazards and cord damage in electrical rooms, service corridors, and staging areas.
