Jefferson County, Florida: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Monticello
Jefferson 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. Electrical contractors employ 21, up 90.9% since 2019 against up 16.3% statewide, at an average $43,277 a year. Jefferson County is home to Monticello. Employers here counted 2,961 jobs in 2025, up 19.3% from 2019 (the 7th fastest growth of 67 Florida counties). 75 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by Duke Energy Florida, LLC (solar). 75 MW of it is already under construction or built. Next door, Leon County has 2 data centers.
Cities and towns in Jefferson County
Jefferson County is home to Monticello.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Aucilla, Lamont, Lloyd, Wacissa, Waukeenah.
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 Jefferson County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Florida |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 14,403 | 16,007 | ▲ 11.1% | 60th of 67 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 2,483 | 2,961 | ▲ 19.3% | 7th of 67 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $34,984 | $49,505 | ▲ 41.5% | — |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 11 | 21 | ▲ 90.9% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.0% | 4.4% | ▲ 1.4pts | — |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 75 MW | no fleet today | 12th of 18 by size |
Unemployment was 4.4% in August 2026, against 3.0% in 2019. 16,007 people live here, up 11.1% since 2020. Duke Energy Florida, LLC is the largest utility serving Jefferson County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 16.63¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.54¢ median for Florida utilities.
Who powers Jefferson County
Utilities with service territory in Jefferson County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Energy Florida, LLC | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,793,067 | 16.63¢ | 38% |
| Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc (FL) | Cooperative | Bundled | 18,028 | 17.61¢ | 14% |
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 Jefferson County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bailey Mill Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 75 MW | Under construction (>50%) | 2026 | Duke Energy Florida, LLC |
The Jefferson County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 2,961 | $49,505 | 1.00 |
| Electrical contractors | 21 | $43,277 | 0.98 |
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 Jefferson County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Jefferson County. Florida has 45 local measures on record statewide, and 5 neighboring counties have one: Leon County, Madison County, Taylor County, Thomas County.
Jefferson County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Jefferson County, Leon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 16,007 | ▲ 19.3% | — | 75 MW | — | — |
| Brooks County GA | 16,101 | ● 0.0% | 300 MW | — | — | — |
| Leon County | 299,048 | ▲ 8.0% | 754 MW | — | 2 | 1 |
| Madison County | 18,759 | ▲ 10.1% | 224 MW | 74 MW | — | 1 |
| Taylor County | 21,210 | ▼ 15.1% | 5 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Thomas County GA | 46,368 | ▲ 5.1% | 1 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Wakulla County | 38,089 | ▲ 13.5% | 272 MW | — | — | 1 |
More of Florida
Jefferson County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Jefferson County, Florida?
2 utilities have service territory in Jefferson County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Duke Energy Florida, LLC, Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc (FL). The largest, Duke Energy Florida, LLC, charged residential customers 16.63¢/kWh on average in 2024.
How much new power is planned in Jefferson County?
75 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 75 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Duke Energy Florida, LLC.
Are there data centers in Jefferson County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Jefferson County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Leon County.
Is Jefferson County adding jobs?
Employers counted 2,961 jobs in 2025 against 2,483 in 2019 (+19.3%, BLS QCEW).
Does Jefferson County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Jefferson County. Florida has 45 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.