Minidoka County, Idaho: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Rupert, Heyburn and Paul
No data center or power plant project is on record in Minidoka County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Construction employs 647, up 77.3% since 2019, and construction is 1.3 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Minidoka County is home to Rupert, Heyburn and Paul. Employers here counted 9,227 jobs in 2025, up 12.3% from 2019. Its power plants have 28 MW of capacity, 100% of it hydro. Electrical contractors employ 150, at an average $69,564 a year.
Cities and towns in Minidoka County
Minidoka County is home to Rupert, Heyburn and Paul.
- Burley also extends into Cassia County.
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 Minidoka County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Idaho |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 21,669 | 22,911 | ▲ 5.7% | 18th of 44 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 8,213 | 9,227 | ▲ 12.3% | 16th of 44 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $38,908 | $52,213 | ▲ 34.2% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 365 | 647 | ▲ 77.3% | 5th of 33 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.7% | 3.3% | ▲ 0.6pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Unemployment was 3.3% in August 2026, against 2.7% in 2019. Idaho Power Co is the largest utility serving Minidoka County, one of 9 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 11.76¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.00¢ median for Idaho utilities. 22,911 people live here, up 5.7% since 2020.
Who powers Minidoka County
Utilities with service territory in Minidoka 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% |
| United Electric Co-op, Inc - (ID) | Cooperative | Bundled | 5,100 | 7.89¢ | 20% |
| City of Burley - (ID) | — | — | — | — | — |
| East End Mutual Elec Co Ltd | — | — | — | — | — |
| Farmers Electric Company, Ltd - (ID) | — | — | — | — | — |
| City of Heyburn - (ID) | — | — | — | — | — |
| City of Minidoka - (ID) | — | — | — | — | — |
| City of Rupert - (ID) | — | — | — | — | — |
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 1
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 28 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minidoka | U S Bureau of Reclamation | Hydro | 28 MW | 1927 |
The Minidoka County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 9,227 | $52,213 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 647 | $69,457 | 1.32 |
| Electrical contractors | 150 | $69,564 | 2.25 |
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 Minidoka County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Minidoka County. Idaho has 4 local measures on record statewide.
Minidoka County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Minidoka County, Cassia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minidoka County | 22,911 | ▲ 12.3% | 28 MW | — | — | — |
| Blaine County | 25,517 | ▲ 11.8% | 12 MW | — | — | — |
| Cassia County | 26,397 | ▲ 8.2% | 132 MW | — | — | — |
| Jerome County | 26,362 | ▲ 17.7% | 53 MW | — | — | — |
| Lincoln County | 5,603 | ▲ 1.4% | 7 MW | — | — | — |
More of Idaho
Minidoka County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Minidoka County, Idaho?
9 utilities have service territory in Minidoka County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Idaho Power Co, United Electric Co-op, Inc - (ID), City of Burley - (ID), East End Mutual Elec Co Ltd. The largest, Idaho Power Co, charged residential customers 11.76¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Minidoka County?
1 operating plant with 28 MW of capacity. The largest is Minidoka (28 MW, hydro).
Are there data centers in Minidoka County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Minidoka County.
Is Minidoka County adding jobs?
Employers counted 9,227 jobs in 2025 against 8,213 in 2019 (+12.3%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 365 to 647.
Does Minidoka County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Minidoka County. Idaho has 4 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.