Perkins County, Nebraska: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Grant
Perkins 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 122, up 45.2% since 2019, and construction is 2.0 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Perkins County is home to Grant. Unemployment was 2.0% in August 2026, against 2.8% in 2019. Nebraska Public Power District is the largest utility serving Perkins County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 10.63¢/kWh in 2024. Employers here counted 1,145 jobs in 2025, down 0.1% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Perkins County
Perkins County is home to Grant.
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 Perkins County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Nebraska |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 2,859 | 2,849 | ▼ 0.3% | 67th of 93 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,146 | 1,145 | ▼ 0.1% | 51st of 93 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $42,775 | $57,027 | ▲ 33.3% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 84 | 122 | ▲ 45.2% | 3rd of 35 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.8% | 2.0% | ▼ 0.8pts | — |
2,849 people live here, down 0.3% since 2020.
Who powers Perkins County
Utilities with service territory in Perkins County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska Public Power District | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 73,650 | 10.63¢ | 28% |
| Midwest Electric Member Corp - (NE) | Cooperative | Bundled | 2,389 | 12.04¢ | 16% |
| Highline Electric Assn | Cooperative | Bundled | 752 | 14.15¢ | 11% |
| City of Grant - (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 Perkins County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Perkins County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,145 | $57,027 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 122 | $69,845 | 2.01 |
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 Perkins County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Perkins County. Nebraska has 23 local measures on record statewide, and 3 neighboring counties have one: Hayes County, Lincoln County, Phillips County.
Perkins County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Perkins County, Lincoln 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perkins County | 2,849 | ▼ 0.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Chase County | 3,718 | ▼ 5.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Deuel County | 1,862 | ▲ 6.3% | 1 MW | — | — | — |
| Hayes County | 821 | ▼ 9.1% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Keith County | 8,100 | ▼ 1.4% | 50 MW | — | — | — |
| Lincoln County | 33,303 | ▲ 6.3% | 1,410 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Phillips County CO | 4,420 | ▲ 5.7% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Sedgwick County CO | 2,247 | ▼ 13.0% | 3 MW | — | — | — |
More of Nebraska
Perkins County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Perkins County, Nebraska?
4 utilities have service territory in Perkins County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Nebraska Public Power District, Midwest Electric Member Corp - (NE), Highline Electric Assn, City of Grant - (NE). The largest, Nebraska Public Power District, charged residential customers 10.63¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Perkins County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Perkins County.
Is Perkins County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,145 jobs in 2025 against 1,146 in 2019 (-0.1%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 84 to 122.
Does Perkins County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Perkins County. Nebraska has 23 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.