Boundary County, Idaho: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Bonners Ferry and Moyie Springs
No data center or power plant project is on record in Boundary County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Construction employs 490, up 67.2% since 2019, and construction is 2.2 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Boundary County is home to Bonners Ferry and Moyie Springs. Employers here counted 4,167 jobs in 2025, up 11.7% from 2019. 13,997 people live here, up 15.3% since 2020. Its power plants have 42 MW of capacity, 100% of it hydro.
Cities and towns in Boundary County
Boundary County is home to Bonners Ferry and Moyie Springs.
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 Boundary County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Idaho |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 12,141 | 13,997 | ▲ 15.3% | 25th of 44 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,730 | 4,167 | ▲ 11.7% | 20th of 44 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $38,756 | $53,615 | ▲ 38.3% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 293 | 490 | ▲ 67.2% | 7th of 33 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 50 | 44 | ▼ 12.0% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.6% | 4.1% | ▼ 0.5pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Unemployment was 4.1% in August 2026, against 4.6% in 2019. Northern Lights, Inc is the largest utility serving Boundary County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 11.49¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.00¢ median for Idaho utilities. Electrical contractors employ 44, down 12.0% since 2019 against up 66.6% statewide, at an average $52,151 a year.
Who powers Boundary County
Utilities with service territory in Boundary County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Lights, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 18,511 | 11.49¢ | 16% |
| City of Bonners Ferry | — | — | — | — | — |
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 2
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 42 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith Falls Hydro Project | Smith Creek Hydro, LLC | Hydro | 38 MW | 1989 |
| Moyie Springs | City of Bonners Ferry (ID) | Hydro | 4 MW | 1921 |
The Boundary County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 4,167 | $53,615 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 490 | $64,112 | 2.22 |
| Electrical contractors | 44 | $52,151 | 1.46 |
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 Boundary County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Boundary County. Idaho has 4 local measures on record statewide.
Boundary County and its neighbors
Of the 3 counties that border Boundary County, Pend Oreille 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boundary County | 13,997 | ▲ 11.7% | 42 MW | — | — | — |
| Bonner County | 54,420 | ▲ 11.5% | 307 MW | — | — | — |
| Lincoln County MT | 22,328 | ▲ 10.6% | 525 MW | — | — | — |
| Pend Oreille County WA | 14,457 | ▲ 2.2% | 1,250 MW | — | — | — |
More of Idaho
Boundary County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Boundary County, Idaho?
2 utilities have service territory in Boundary County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Northern Lights, Inc, City of Bonners Ferry. The largest, Northern Lights, Inc, charged residential customers 11.49¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Boundary County?
2 operating plants with 42 MW of capacity. The largest is Smith Falls Hydro Project (38 MW, hydro).
Are there data centers in Boundary County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Boundary County.
Is Boundary County adding jobs?
Employers counted 4,167 jobs in 2025 against 3,730 in 2019 (+11.7%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 293 to 490.
Does Boundary County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Boundary County. Idaho has 4 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.