You need someone who understands mission-critical power, not just commercial electrical work.
AI data centers have different requirements than enterprise IT. You're looking at: medium voltage switchgear (15kV+), redundant UPS systems (2N or better), generator backup with fuel for 48+ hours, synchronous transfer switches, and liquid cooling distribution. Most 'data center electricians' have never touched this level of power density or redundancy. You need a contractor with experience in hyperscale colocation, utility substations, or critical healthcare facilities.
Vet them on three things: (1) Have they delivered projects over 5 MW? (2) Do they have in-house engineers or just field crews? (3) Can they handle utility coordination and long-lead procurement? A good contractor will ask about your PUE targets, N+1 redundancy requirements, and backup fuel strategy before giving you a number. A bad one will quote per square foot without understanding your actual load.
Get references from projects they completed in the last 24 months. Ask about change orders and commissioning timelines. If someone promises a 6-month build for greenfield AI compute, they're either lying or underestimating scope. Real timelines are 18-36 months depending on utility service and equipment lead times.
This is where SideGuy helps you skip the confusion and get clarity fast.
No pressure. No upsell. Just honest answers.
Text PJ: 773-544-1231AI compute infrastructure is moving fast. Companies are making expensive mistakes by committing to solutions before understanding their actual requirements. Good decisions come from understanding power, cooling, redundancy, and execution quality — not just hardware specs.