Washington County, Colorado: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Akron
Washington 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. Washington County is home to Akron and Otis. Unemployment was 4.1% in August 2026, against 2.2% in 2019. Next door, Arapahoe County has 17 data centers. Public Service Co of Colorado is the largest utility serving Washington County, one of 6 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 15.05¢/kWh in 2024. Employers here counted 1,213 jobs in 2025, up 1.2% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Washington County
Washington County is home to Akron and Otis.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Cope.
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 Washington County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Colorado |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 4,810 | 4,732 | ▼ 1.6% | 53rd of 64 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,199 | 1,213 | ▲ 1.2% | 46th of 64 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $44,320 | $45,619 | ▲ 2.9% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.2% | 4.1% | ▲ 1.9pts | — |
4,732 people live here, down 1.6% since 2020.
Who powers Washington County
Utilities with service territory in Washington 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% |
| Mountain View Elec Assn, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 59,789 | 15.52¢ | 20% |
| Morgan County Rural Elec Assn | Cooperative | Bundled | 5,825 | 14.37¢ | 54% |
| Highline Electric Assn | Cooperative | Bundled | 5,047 | 14.12¢ | 14% |
| Y-W Electric Assn Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 4,876 | 15.64¢ | 42% |
| 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 Washington County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Washington County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,213 | $45,619 | 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 Washington County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Washington County. Colorado has 25 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Logan County.
Washington County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Washington County, Kit Carson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | 4,732 | ▲ 1.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Adams County | 554,668 | ▲ 10.6% | 1,767 MW | 8 MW | 4 | — |
| Arapahoe County | 673,820 | ▲ 1.8% | 336 MW | — | 17 | — |
| Kit Carson County | 7,069 | ▲ 6.4% | 1,436 MW | 753 MW | — | — |
| Lincoln County | 5,645 | ▼ 1.1% | 1,007 MW | — | — | — |
| Logan County | 20,654 | ▼ 1.8% | 1,016 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Morgan County | 30,306 | ▲ 4.6% | 1,145 MW | 808 MW | — | — |
| Yuma County | 9,896 | ▼ 5.1% | 3 MW | — | — | — |
More of Colorado
Washington County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Washington County, Colorado?
6 utilities have service territory in Washington County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Public Service Co of Colorado, Mountain View Elec Assn, Inc, Morgan County Rural Elec Assn, Highline Electric Assn. The largest, Public Service Co of Colorado, charged residential customers 15.05¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Washington County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Washington County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Arapahoe County.
Is Washington County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,213 jobs in 2025 against 1,199 in 2019 (+1.2%, BLS QCEW).
Does Washington County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Washington County. Colorado has 25 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.