Washington County, Idaho: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Weiser
Washington 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 212, up 149.4% since 2019, and construction is 1.4 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Washington County is home to Weiser. Employers here counted 2,928 jobs in 2025, up 7.1% from 2019. Its power plants have 678 MW of capacity, 100% of it hydro, the 3rd largest fleet in Idaho. 3 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly battery storage.
Cities and towns in Washington County
Washington County is home to Weiser.
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 Washington County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Idaho |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 10,556 | 11,583 | ▲ 9.7% | 29th of 44 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 2,734 | 2,928 | ▲ 7.1% | 30th of 44 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $33,513 | $44,545 | ▲ 32.9% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 85 | 212 | ▲ 149.4% | 1st of 33 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.2% | 4.4% | ▲ 0.2pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 3 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
11,583 people live here, up 9.7% since 2020. Idaho Power Co is the largest utility serving Washington County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 11.76¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.00¢ median for Idaho utilities. Unemployment was 4.4% in August 2026, against 4.2% in 2019.
Who powers Washington County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +3 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Washington 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% |
| City of Weiser - (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 2
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 675 MW | 100% |
| Battery storage | 3 MW | 0% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brownlee | Idaho Power Co | Hydro | 675 MW | 1958 |
| Weiser BESS | Idaho Power Co | Battery storage | 3 MW | 2025 |
The Washington County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 2,928 | $44,545 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 212 | $52,545 | 1.37 |
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 Washington County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Washington County. Idaho has 4 local measures on record statewide.
Washington County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Washington County, Payette 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | 11,583 | ▲ 7.1% | 678 MW | — | — | — |
| Adams County | 5,013 | ▲ 2.3% | 6 MW | — | — | — |
| Baker County OR | 16,658 | ▼ 0.2% | 261 MW | — | — | — |
| Gem County | 21,773 | ▲ 20.2% | 10 MW | — | — | — |
| Malheur County OR | 32,261 | ▲ 4.7% | 110 MW | — | — | — |
| Payette County | 27,824 | ▲ 11.9% | 318 MW | — | — | — |
More of Idaho
Washington County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Washington County, Idaho?
2 utilities have service territory in Washington County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Idaho Power Co, City of Weiser - (ID). The largest, Idaho Power Co, charged residential customers 11.76¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Washington County?
2 operating plants with 678 MW of capacity. The largest is Brownlee (675 MW, hydro).
Are there data centers in Washington County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Washington County.
Is Washington County adding jobs?
Employers counted 2,928 jobs in 2025 against 2,734 in 2019 (+7.1%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 85 to 212.
Does Washington County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Washington County. Idaho has 4 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.