Saguache County, Colorado: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Center
Saguache County is not a build-out site today. It feels the boom through the grid it shares, the utilities that serve it and the work nearby. Saguache County is home to most of Center (1,847 of its 1,890 residents) and Saguache. 2 MW has retired here since 2019, including Center (petroleum, 2 MW, 2021). Unemployment was 4.9% in August 2026, against 4.2% in 2019. Its power plants have 3 MW of capacity, 100% of it solar. Public Service Co of Colorado is the largest utility serving Saguache County, one of 6 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 15.05¢/kWh in 2024.
Cities and towns in Saguache County
Saguache County is home to most of Center (1,847 of its 1,890 residents) and Saguache.
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 Saguache County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Colorado |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 6,396 | 6,732 | ▲ 5.3% | 45th of 64 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,679 | 1,670 | ▼ 0.5% | 51st of 64 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $33,615 | $44,292 | ▲ 31.8% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.2% | 4.9% | ▲ 0.7pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 2 MW | — |
Employers here counted 1,670 jobs in 2025, down 0.5% from 2019. 6,732 people live here, up 5.3% since 2020.
Who powers Saguache County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: −2 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Saguache 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% |
| San Luis Valley R E C, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 9,115 | 18.38¢ | 26% |
| City of Center - (CO) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Gunnison County Elec Assn. | — | — | — | — | — |
| 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.
Operating power plants 1
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 3 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Valley Solar Array | Onsite Partners, LLC | Solar | 3 MW | 2017 |
Retired since 2019
| Plant | Technology | MW | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Center | Petroleum | 2 MW | 2021 |
The Saguache County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,670 | $44,292 | 1.00 |
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 Saguache County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Saguache County. Colorado has 25 local measures on record statewide.
Saguache County and its neighbors
Of the 9 counties that border Saguache County, Alamosa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saguache County | 6,732 | ▼ 0.5% | 3 MW | — | — | — |
| Alamosa County | 16,688 | ▼ 2.1% | 203 MW | — | — | — |
| Chaffee County | 20,831 | ▲ 13.2% | 6 MW | — | — | — |
| Custer County | 5,590 | ▲ 28.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Fremont County | 50,039 | ▲ 6.4% | 2 MW | — | — | — |
| Gunnison County | 17,439 | ▲ 8.3% | 86 MW | — | — | — |
| Hinsdale County | 753 | ▲ 10.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Huerfano County | 7,011 | ▲ 9.5% | 157 MW | — | — | — |
| Mineral County | 910 | ▼ 1.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Rio Grande County | 11,087 | ▲ 6.7% | 2 MW | — | — | — |
More of Colorado
Saguache County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Saguache County, Colorado?
6 utilities have service territory in Saguache County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Public Service Co of Colorado, San Luis Valley R E C, Inc, City of Center - (CO), Gunnison County Elec Assn.. The largest, Public Service Co of Colorado, charged residential customers 15.05¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Saguache County?
1 operating plant with 3 MW of capacity. The largest is San Luis Valley Solar Array (3 MW, solar).
Are there data centers in Saguache County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Saguache County.
Is Saguache County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,670 jobs in 2025 against 1,679 in 2019 (-0.5%, BLS QCEW).
Does Saguache County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Saguache County. Colorado has 25 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.