Putnam County, Georgia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Eatonton
No data center or power plant project is on record in Putnam County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Electrical contractors employ 114, up 86.9% since 2019 against up 21.5% statewide, at an average $60,791 a year. Putnam County is home to Eatonton. Construction employs 463, up 24.8% since 2019, and construction is 1.4 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Next door, Jones County has 1 data center. Employers here counted 6,381 jobs in 2025, up 11.1% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Putnam County
Putnam County is home to Eatonton.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Crooked Creek.
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 Putnam County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 22,163 | 23,722 | ▲ 7.0% | 81st of 159 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 5,746 | 6,381 | ▲ 11.1% | 51st of 159 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $34,352 | $48,793 | ▲ 42.0% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 371 | 463 | ▲ 24.8% | 59th of 97 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 61 | 114 | ▲ 86.9% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.1% | 3.7% | ▼ 0.4pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 6 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
6 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar. Its power plants have 7 MW of capacity, 100% of it solar. Georgia Power Co is the largest utility serving Putnam County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 15.49¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.61¢ median for Georgia utilities. Unemployment was 3.7% in August 2026, against 4.1% in 2019. 23,722 people live here, up 7.0% since 2020.
Who powers Putnam County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +6 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Putnam County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 2,452,488 | 15.49¢ | 39% |
| Central Georgia El Member Corp | Cooperative | Bundled | 61,155 | 12.24¢ | 14% |
| Tri-County Elec Member Corp (GA) | Cooperative | Bundled | 21,154 | 14.83¢ | 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.
Operating power plants 3
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 7 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Putnam Erikson 2 | SolAmerica Energy, LLC | Solar | 3 MW | 2021 |
| Putnam Erickson | Safari Energy, LLC | Solar | 3 MW | 2020 |
| Tri-County Solar Facility | Georgia Power Co | Solar | 1 MW | 2016 |
The Putnam County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 6,381 | $48,793 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 463 | $65,703 | 1.37 |
| Electrical contractors | 114 | $60,791 | 2.48 |
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 Putnam County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Putnam County. Georgia has 60 local measures on record statewide.
Putnam County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Putnam County, Hancock 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Putnam County | 23,722 | ▲ 11.1% | 7 MW | — | — | — |
| Baldwin County | 44,029 | ▲ 5.5% | 45 MW | — | — | — |
| Greene County | 21,367 | ▲ 13.6% | 3 MW | — | — | — |
| Hancock County | 8,682 | ▼ 1.9% | 321 MW | 80 MW | — | — |
| Jasper County | 17,632 | ▲ 6.0% | 14 MW | — | — | — |
| Jones County | 29,171 | ▲ 1.4% | — | — | 1 | — |
| Morgan County | 22,095 | ▲ 20.7% | 1 MW | — | — | — |
More of Georgia
Putnam County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Putnam County, Georgia?
3 utilities have service territory in Putnam County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Georgia Power Co, Central Georgia El Member Corp, Tri-County Elec Member Corp (GA). The largest, Georgia Power Co, charged residential customers 15.49¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Putnam County?
3 operating plants with 7 MW of capacity. The largest is Putnam Erikson 2 (3 MW, solar).
Are there data centers in Putnam County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Putnam County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Jones County.
Is Putnam County adding jobs?
Employers counted 6,381 jobs in 2025 against 5,746 in 2019 (+11.1%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 371 to 463.
Does Putnam County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Putnam County. Georgia has 60 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.