Jerome County, Idaho: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Jerome
Jerome 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. Construction employs 677, up 74.9% since 2019. Jerome County is home to Jerome and Hazelton. Electrical contractors employ 75, up 53.1% since 2019 against up 66.6% statewide, at an average $59,259 a year. Employers here counted 12,328 jobs in 2025, up 17.7% from 2019 (the 10th fastest growth of 44 Idaho counties). 4 MW has retired here since 2019, including Double A Digester (other technologies, 4 MW, 2019).
Cities and towns in Jerome County
Jerome County is home to Jerome and Hazelton.
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 Jerome County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Idaho |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 24,269 | 26,362 | ▲ 8.6% | 16th of 44 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 10,474 | 12,328 | ▲ 17.7% | 10th of 44 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $39,723 | $54,347 | ▲ 36.8% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 387 | 677 | ▲ 74.9% | 6th of 33 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 49 | 75 | ▲ 53.1% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.4% | 3.1% | ▲ 0.7pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 3 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 4 MW | — |
3 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly hydro. Unemployment was 3.1% in August 2026, against 2.4% in 2019. Its power plants have 53 MW of capacity, 100% of it hydro. 26,362 people live here, up 8.6% since 2020. Idaho Power Co is the largest utility serving Jerome County. Its residential customers paid an average 11.76¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.00¢ median for Idaho utilities.
Who powers Jerome County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: −1 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Jerome County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 525,751 | 11.76¢ | 27% |
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 8
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 53 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoshone Falls | Idaho Power Co | Hydro | 15 MW | 1921 |
| Bypass | North Side Energy Company | Hydro | 10 MW | 1987 |
| S E Hazelton A | North Side Energy Company | Hydro | 9 MW | 1990 |
| Wilson Lake Hydroelectric Project | Hazelton/Wilson Joint Venture | Hydro | 8 MW | 1993 |
| Hazelton B Hydro | Hazelton/Wilson Joint Venture | Hydro | 8 MW | 1993 |
| Mile 28 Water Power Project | Wood Hydro, LLC | Hydro | 1 MW | 1994 |
Retired since 2019
| Plant | Technology | MW | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double A Digester | Other technologies | 4 MW | 2019 |
The Jerome County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 12,328 | $54,347 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 677 | $62,732 | 1.04 |
| Electrical contractors | 75 | $59,259 | 0.84 |
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 Jerome County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Jerome County. Idaho has 4 local measures on record statewide.
Jerome County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Jerome County, Twin Falls 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jerome County | 26,362 | ▲ 17.7% | 53 MW | — | — | — |
| Cassia County | 26,397 | ▲ 8.2% | 132 MW | — | — | — |
| Gooding County | 16,446 | ▲ 9.0% | 188 MW | — | — | — |
| Lincoln County | 5,603 | ▲ 1.4% | 7 MW | — | — | — |
| Minidoka County | 22,911 | ▲ 12.3% | 28 MW | — | — | — |
| Twin Falls County | 97,539 | ▲ 6.9% | 598 MW | — | — | — |
More of Idaho
Jerome County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Jerome County, Idaho?
1 utility has service territory in Jerome County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Idaho Power Co. The largest, Idaho Power Co, charged residential customers 11.76¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Jerome, ID in?
Jerome is in Jerome County, Idaho. About 13,731 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What power plants are in Jerome County?
8 operating plants with 53 MW of capacity. The largest is Shoshone Falls (15 MW, hydro).
Are there data centers in Jerome County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Jerome County.
Is Jerome County adding jobs?
Employers counted 12,328 jobs in 2025 against 10,474 in 2019 (+17.7%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 387 to 677.
Does Jerome County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Jerome County. Idaho has 4 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.