Chase County, Nebraska: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Imperial
No data center or power plant project is on record in Chase County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Chase County is home to Imperial and Wauneta. Employers here counted 1,738 jobs in 2025, down 5.1% from 2019. Midwest Electric Member Corp - (NE) is the largest utility serving Chase County, one of 5 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.04¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.86¢ median for Nebraska utilities. Unemployment was 3.0% in August 2026, against 2.8% in 2019. 3,718 people live here, down 4.4% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Chase County
Chase County is home to Imperial and Wauneta.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Champion, Enders.
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 Chase County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Nebraska |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 3,891 | 3,718 | ▼ 4.4% | 61st of 93 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,831 | 1,738 | ▼ 5.1% | 76th of 93 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $39,270 | $52,255 | ▲ 33.1% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.8% | 3.0% | ▲ 0.2pts | — |
Who powers Chase County
Utilities with service territory in Chase County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midwest Electric Member Corp - (NE) | Cooperative | Bundled | 2,389 | 12.04¢ | 16% |
| Southwest Public Power Dist | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 2,186 | 10.16¢ | 23% |
| Highline Electric Assn | Cooperative | Bundled | 752 | 14.15¢ | 11% |
| City of Imperial | — | — | — | — | — |
| Village of Wauneta - (NE) | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Chase County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Chase County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,738 | $52,255 | 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 Chase County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Chase County. Nebraska has 23 local measures on record statewide, and 3 neighboring counties have one: Dundy County, Hayes County, Phillips County.
Chase County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Chase County, Yuma 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase County | 3,718 | ▼ 5.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Dundy County | 1,568 | ▲ 15.0% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Hayes County | 821 | ▼ 9.1% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Perkins County | 2,849 | ▼ 0.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Phillips County CO | 4,420 | ▲ 5.7% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Yuma County CO | 9,896 | ▼ 5.1% | 3 MW | — | — | — |
More of Nebraska
Chase County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Chase County, Nebraska?
5 utilities have service territory in Chase County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Midwest Electric Member Corp - (NE), Southwest Public Power Dist, Highline Electric Assn, City of Imperial. The largest, Midwest Electric Member Corp - (NE), charged residential customers 12.04¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Chase County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Chase County.
Is Chase County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,738 jobs in 2025 against 1,831 in 2019 (-5.1%, BLS QCEW).
Does Chase County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Chase County. Nebraska has 23 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.