Pondera County, Montana: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Conrad
Pondera 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 134, up 36.7% since 2019, and construction is 1.7 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Pondera County is home to Conrad and Valier. Electrical contractors employ 26, up 44.4% since 2019 against up 43.9% statewide, at an average $43,804 a year. Next door, Flathead County has 2 data centers. Employers here counted 1,523 jobs in 2025, down 5.3% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Pondera County
Pondera County is home to Conrad and Valier.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Birch Creek Colony, Brady, Dupuyer, Heart Butte, Kingsbury Colony, Midway Colony, New Miami Colony, Pondera Colony.
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 Pondera County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Montana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 5,883 | 6,072 | ▲ 3.2% | 33rd of 56 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,608 | 1,523 | ▼ 5.3% | 45th of 56 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $34,431 | $47,172 | ▲ 37.0% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 98 | 134 | ▲ 36.7% | 11th of 25 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 18 | 26 | ▲ 44.4% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.8% | 3.6% | ▼ 0.2pts | — |
NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT) is the largest utility serving Pondera County, one of 5 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 14.23¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.95¢ median for Montana utilities. Unemployment was 3.6% in August 2026, against 3.8% in 2019. 6,072 people live here, up 3.2% since 2020.
Who powers Pondera County
Utilities with service territory in Pondera County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT) | Investor Owned | Bundled | 328,127 | 14.23¢ | 49% |
| Glacier Electric Coop, Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
| Marias River Electric Coop Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sun River Electric Coop, Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
| WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration | Federal | Bundled | — | — | 79% |
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 Pondera County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Pondera County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,523 | $47,172 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 134 | $56,685 | 1.66 |
| Electrical contractors | 26 | $43,804 | 2.37 |
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 Pondera County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Pondera County. Montana has 5 local measures on record statewide.
Pondera County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Pondera County, Flathead 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pondera County | 6,072 | ▼ 5.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Chouteau County | 5,865 | ▲ 4.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Flathead County | 115,429 | ▲ 15.7% | 438 MW | — | 2 | — |
| Glacier County | 13,463 | ▲ 2.9% | — | — | — | — |
| Liberty County | 1,957 | ▲ 2.8% | 8 MW | — | — | — |
| Teton County | 6,496 | ▲ 7.8% | 48 MW | — | — | — |
| Toole County | 5,211 | ▼ 5.5% | 399 MW | — | — | — |
More of Montana
Pondera County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Pondera County, Montana?
5 utilities have service territory in Pondera County in the EIA-861 2024 report: NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT), Glacier Electric Coop, Inc, Marias River Electric Coop Inc, Sun River Electric Coop, Inc. The largest, NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT), charged residential customers 14.23¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Pondera County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Pondera County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Flathead County.
Is Pondera County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,523 jobs in 2025 against 1,608 in 2019 (-5.3%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 98 to 134.
Does Pondera County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Pondera County. Montana has 5 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.