Ouray County, Colorado: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Ridgway
No data center or power plant project is on record in Ouray County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Ouray County is home to Ridgway and Ouray. Construction employs 147, down 21.8% since 2019. Employers here counted 2,194 jobs in 2025, up 13.0% from 2019 (the 9th fastest growth of 64 Colorado counties). Unemployment was 4.3% in August 2026, against 2.9% in 2019. Its power plants have 8 MW of capacity, 100% of it hydro.
Cities and towns in Ouray County
Ouray County is home to Ridgway and Ouray.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Colona, Loghill Village, Portland.
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 Ouray County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Colorado |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 4,879 | 5,265 | ▲ 7.9% | 52nd of 64 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,941 | 2,194 | ▲ 13.0% | 9th of 64 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $38,956 | $52,282 | ▲ 34.2% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 188 | 147 | ▼ 21.8% | 37th of 38 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 18 | 12 | ▼ 33.3% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.9% | 4.3% | ▲ 1.4pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Public Service Co of Colorado is the largest utility serving Ouray County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 15.05¢/kWh in 2024. 5,265 people live here, up 7.9% since 2020. Electrical contractors employ 12, down 33.3% since 2019 against up 9.0% statewide, at an average $58,284 a year.
Who powers Ouray County
Utilities with service territory in Ouray 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% |
| Delta Montrose Electric Assn | Cooperative | Bundled | 32,575 | 14.97¢ | 26% |
| San Miguel Power Assn, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 12,154 | 16.32¢ | 45% |
| 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.
Operating power plants 1
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 8 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tri-County Water Hydropower Project | Tri-County Water Conservancy District | Hydro | 8 MW | 2014 |
The Ouray County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 2,194 | $52,282 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 147 | $68,506 | 1.26 |
| Electrical contractors | 12 | $58,284 | 0.76 |
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 Ouray County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Ouray County. Colorado has 25 local measures on record statewide.
Ouray County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Ouray County, Montrose 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ouray County | 5,265 | ▲ 13.0% | 8 MW | — | — | — |
| Gunnison County | 17,439 | ▲ 8.3% | 86 MW | — | — | — |
| Hinsdale County | 753 | ▲ 10.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Montrose County | 44,591 | ▲ 12.7% | 228 MW | — | — | — |
| San Juan County | 813 | ▲ 28.2% | — | — | — | — |
| San Miguel County | 7,753 | ▲ 6.6% | 4 MW | — | — | — |
More of Colorado
Ouray County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Ouray County, Colorado?
4 utilities have service territory in Ouray County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Public Service Co of Colorado, Delta Montrose Electric Assn, San Miguel Power Assn, Inc, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration. The largest, Public Service Co of Colorado, charged residential customers 15.05¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Ouray County?
1 operating plant with 8 MW of capacity. The largest is Tri-County Water Hydropower Project (8 MW, hydro).
Are there data centers in Ouray County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Ouray County.
Is Ouray County adding jobs?
Employers counted 2,194 jobs in 2025 against 1,941 in 2019 (+13.0%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 188 to 147.
Does Ouray County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Ouray County. Colorado has 25 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.