Yes, paying for electricity to power your data center is an example of an operating expense (OPEX). Operating expenses are the ongoing costs that a business incurs to keep its operations running smoothly. These expenses are not directly related to the production of goods or services but are necessary to support the day-to-day activities of the business.

In the case of a data center, electricity costs are a significant component of the operating expenses. Data centers require a substantial amount of electricity to power the servers, cooling systems, networking equipment, and other infrastructure. The electricity bill covers the consumption of power needed to operate and maintain the data center's equipment and facilities.

Other examples of operating expenses for a data center may include expenses for network connectivity, maintenance and repairs, software licenses, security systems, and facility management.

In contrast, capital expenses (CAPEX) are one-time investments in assets or infrastructure that provide long-term value to the business, such as purchasing servers, networking equipment, or constructing a new data center facility....