Custer County, Colorado: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
No data center or power plant project is on record in Custer County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Employers here counted 1,029 jobs in 2025, up 28.5% from 2019 (the 2nd fastest growth of 64 Colorado counties). Custer County is home to Silver Cliff. Next door, Pueblo County has 1,418 MW of planned generation. Unemployment was 4.5% in August 2026, against 3.1% in 2019. 5,590 people live here, up 18.3% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Custer County
Custer County is home to Silver Cliff.
Residents are 2025 Census estimates for the part of each city, town or township inside this county. Census publishes no annual estimate for unincorporated communities.
What changed in Custer County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Colorado |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 4,724 | 5,590 | ▲ 18.3% | 51st of 64 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 801 | 1,029 | ▲ 28.5% | 2nd of 64 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $33,431 | $46,785 | ▲ 39.9% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 36 | 77 | ▲ 113.9% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.1% | 4.5% | ▲ 1.4pts | — |
Public Service Co of Colorado is the largest utility serving Custer County, one of 5 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 15.05¢/kWh in 2024.
Who powers Custer County
Utilities with service territory in Custer County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Service Co of Colorado | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,365,053 | 15.05¢ | 44% |
| Black Hills Colorado Electric, LLC | Investor Owned | Bundled | 89,252 | 17.05¢ | 47% |
| San Isabel Electric Assn, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 23,289 | 17.78¢ | 21% |
| Sangre De Cristo Elec Assn Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
| WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration | Federal | Bundled | — | — | 72% |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
No operating power plant is located in Custer County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Custer County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,029 | $46,785 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 77 | $52,310 | 1.41 |
Concentration is the BLS location quotient: 1.0 means the industry holds the same share of local jobs as it does nationally. Industry rows count private employers; cells BLS suppresses are left out.
Data centers and local rules in Custer County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Custer County. Colorado has 25 local measures on record statewide.
Custer County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Custer County, Pueblo County carries the most build-out activity: data centers, planned generation and operating plants combined.
| County | Population | Jobs since 2019 | Operating MW | Planned MW | Data centers | Local measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custer County | 5,590 | ▲ 28.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Fremont County | 50,039 | ▲ 6.4% | 2 MW | — | — | — |
| Huerfano County | 7,011 | ▲ 9.5% | 157 MW | — | — | — |
| Pueblo County | 169,277 | ▼ 1.1% | 3,613 MW | 1,418 MW | — | — |
| Saguache County | 6,732 | ▼ 0.5% | 3 MW | — | — | — |
More of Colorado
Custer County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Custer County, Colorado?
5 utilities have service territory in Custer County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Public Service Co of Colorado, Black Hills Colorado Electric, LLC, San Isabel Electric Assn, Inc, Sangre De Cristo Elec Assn Inc. The largest, Public Service Co of Colorado, charged residential customers 15.05¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Custer County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Custer County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Pueblo County.
Is Custer County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,029 jobs in 2025 against 801 in 2019 (+28.5%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 36 to 77.
Does Custer County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Custer County. Colorado has 25 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.