Custer County, Idaho: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
No data center or power plant project is on record in Custer County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Custer County is home to Challis. Unemployment was 3.3% in August 2026, against 5.1% in 2019. Next door, Elmore County has 200 MW of planned generation. Employers here counted 1,601 jobs in 2025, up 5.8% from 2019. 4,636 people live here, up 8.6% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Custer County
Custer County is home to Challis.
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 Custer County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Idaho |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 4,269 | 4,636 | ▲ 8.6% | 40th of 44 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,513 | 1,601 | ▲ 5.8% | 34th of 44 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $32,407 | $49,724 | ▲ 53.4% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.1% | 3.3% | ▼ 1.8pts | — |
Salmon River Electric Coop Inc is the largest utility serving Custer County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 9.00¢/kWh in 2024, below the 10.00¢ median for Idaho utilities.
Who powers Custer County
Utilities with service territory in Custer County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salmon River Electric Coop Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 2,383 | 9.00¢ | 21% |
| Bonneville Power Administration | — | — | — | — | — |
| Lost River Electric Coop Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Custer County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Custer County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,601 | $49,724 | 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 Custer County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Custer County. Idaho has 4 local measures on record statewide.
Custer County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Custer County, Elmore 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custer County | 4,636 | ▲ 5.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Blaine County | 25,517 | ▲ 11.8% | 12 MW | — | — | — |
| Boise County | 8,545 | ▲ 5.4% | 9 MW | — | — | — |
| Butte County | 2,783 | ▲ 23.1% | 4 MW | — | — | — |
| Elmore County | 29,465 | ▲ 5.2% | 928 MW | 200 MW | — | — |
| Lemhi County | 8,474 | ▲ 8.7% | 5 MW | — | — | — |
| Valley County | 12,831 | ▲ 16.2% | 12 MW | — | — | — |
More of Idaho
Custer County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Custer County, Idaho?
3 utilities have service territory in Custer County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Salmon River Electric Coop Inc, Bonneville Power Administration, Lost River Electric Coop Inc. The largest, Salmon River Electric Coop Inc, charged residential customers 9.00¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Custer County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Custer County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Elmore County.
Is Custer County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,601 jobs in 2025 against 1,513 in 2019 (+5.8%, BLS QCEW).
Does Custer County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Custer County. Idaho has 4 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.