Powell County, Montana: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Deer Lodge
No data center or power plant project is on record in Powell County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Powell County is home to Deer Lodge. Next door, Lewis and Clark County has 3 data centers. Unemployment was 3.0% in August 2026, against 4.2% in 2019. Employers here counted 2,457 jobs in 2025, up 1.8% from 2019. NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT) is the largest utility serving Powell County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 14.23¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.95¢ median for Montana utilities.
Cities and towns in Powell County
Powell County is home to Deer Lodge.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Avon, Elliston, Garrison, Goldcreek, Helmville, Ovando, Racetrack.
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 Powell County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Montana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 6,941 | 7,157 | ▲ 3.1% | 30th of 56 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 2,414 | 2,457 | ▲ 1.8% | 34th of 56 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $39,846 | $59,985 | ▲ 50.5% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.2% | 3.0% | ▼ 1.2pts | — |
7,157 people live here, up 3.1% since 2020.
Who powers Powell County
Utilities with service territory in Powell 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% |
| Missoula Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 14,686 | 10.50¢ | 20% |
| Bonneville Power Administration | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Powell County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Powell County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 2,457 | $59,985 | 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 Powell County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Powell County. Montana has 5 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Missoula County.
Powell County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Powell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powell County | 7,157 | ▲ 1.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Deer Lodge County | 9,709 | ▲ 7.6% | 203 MW | — | — | — |
| Flathead County | 115,429 | ▲ 15.7% | 438 MW | — | 2 | — |
| Granite County | 3,658 | ▼ 0.9% | 2 MW | — | — | — |
| Jefferson County | 13,329 | ▲ 17.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Lewis and Clark County | 75,331 | ▲ 9.2% | 80 MW | 7 MW | 3 | — |
| Missoula County | 123,513 | ▲ 7.3% | 6 MW | — | 3 | 1 |
More of Montana
Powell County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Powell County, Montana?
3 utilities have service territory in Powell County in the EIA-861 2024 report: NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT), Missoula Electric Coop, Inc, Bonneville Power Administration. The largest, NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT), charged residential customers 14.23¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Powell County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Powell County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Lewis and Clark County.
Is Powell County adding jobs?
Employers counted 2,457 jobs in 2025 against 2,414 in 2019 (+1.8%, BLS QCEW).
Does Powell County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Powell County. Montana has 5 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.