AIComputeCalc

Worked example · September 7, 2026

How much does an H100 system cost to power?

Start with the complete system, not just the accelerator. In the example below, one DGX H100 has an estimated electricity cost of $580.79 per average month at $0.10/kWh, PUE 1.2, and an assumed average load equal to 65% of its maximum system power. This is a scenario, not a utility quote or a measured workload result.

Choose the right power boundary

NVIDIA's DGX H100/H200 user guide specifies eight GPUs, an 8U chassis, and 10.2 kW maximum system power. A complete-system preset already includes its internal components: do not add the GPUs or CPU power again. External switches and storage still need their own budget. Other H100 servers can have different requirements; the DGX figure is not a universal eight-GPU server rating.

Work through the energy estimate

  1. IT design load: 10.2 kW for one system.
  2. Facility design load: 10.2 × 1.2 PUE = 12.24 kW.
  3. Assumed average facility load: 12.24 × 0.65 = 7.956 kW.
  4. Average-month energy: 7.956 × 730 hours = 5,807.88 kWh.
  5. Energy charge: 5,807.88 × $0.10 = $580.79/month, or $6,969.46/year using 8,760 hours.

Open this example in the calculator

Load factor is not GPU utilization

A GPU reporting 65% utilization does not prove that its server draws 65% of maximum watts. Idle power, memory, CPUs, fans, communication, and power limits affect the relationship. Here, 65% is an explicit average-to-design-power assumption. Use metered system or rack energy for a stronger budget. PUE is also an energy ratio; using a constant PUE for peak sizing is a planning simplification.

Check sensitivity before trusting one number

At the same electricity rate and PUE, a 40% average load gives about $357.41/month, while 100% gives $893.52/month. Doubling the energy price doubles these energy-only costs. A 730-hour month is an annual average: use actual billing hours for a specific month.

Capacity reserve is not energy consumption

Keeping 15% of capacity unused means 12.24 ÷ 0.85 = 14.4 kW of facility capacity for this scenario. Do not bill all 14.4 kW as continuously consumed energy. The unused capacity is headroom, not a running appliance.

What the electricity estimate excludes

Demand charges, time-of-use schedules, power-factor charges, taxes, minimum bills, cooling-water charges, equipment purchase, colocation fees, maintenance, and network service are not included. A low energy-only figure is not a complete cost-of-ownership estimate. Final electrical distribution and cooling design require qualified review.

Next: translate system power into rack and cooling constraints, or review the calculation methodology. Report errors to contact@aicomputecalc.com.