Dillon County, South Carolina: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Dillon and Latta
New generation is lining up in Dillon County. Dillon County is home to Dillon, Latta and Lake View. 81 MW of new generation is planned here across 2 units, led by Melsam Solar (solar), the 7th largest pipeline among South Carolina's counties. Unemployment was 5.5% in August 2026, against 4.2% in 2019. 10 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar. Its power plants have 15 MW of capacity, 100% of it solar.
Cities and towns in Dillon County
Dillon County is home to Dillon, Latta and Lake View.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Floydale, Hamer, Little Rock, Newtown.
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 Dillon County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in South Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 28,274 | 27,458 | ▼ 2.9% | 34th of 46 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 9,165 | 9,422 | ▲ 2.8% | 22nd of 46 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $34,227 | $44,224 | ▲ 29.2% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.2% | 5.5% | ▲ 1.3pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 10 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 81 MW | 540% of today's fleet | 7th of 16 by size |
Employers here counted 9,422 jobs in 2025, up 2.8% from 2019. Duke Energy Progress - (NC) is the largest utility serving Dillon County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 14.88¢/kWh in 2024. 27,458 people live here, down 2.9% since 2020.
Who powers Dillon County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +10 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Dillon County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Energy Progress - (NC) | Investor Owned | Bundled | 143,713 | 14.88¢ | 28% |
| MPD Electric Cooperative | Cooperative | Bundled | 31,874 | 10.94¢ | 27% |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 15 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitetail Solar | SolRiver Capital LLC | Solar | 10 MW | 2021 |
| Freedom Solar | SunStrong Management | Solar | 5 MW | 2017 |
Planned generation 2
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melsam Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 65 MW | Approvals received | 2028 | Melsam Solar |
| Cotton Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 16 MW | Approvals received | 2027 | Cotton Solar, LLC |
The Dillon County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 9,422 | $44,224 | 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 Dillon County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Dillon County. South Carolina has 22 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Columbus County.
Dillon County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Dillon County, Horry 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dillon County | 27,458 | ▲ 2.8% | 15 MW | 81 MW | — | — |
| Columbus County NC | 50,487 | ▼ 6.4% | 166 MW | 25 MW | — | 1 |
| Florence County | 138,504 | ▲ 5.5% | 116 MW | — | — | — |
| Horry County | 427,551 | ▲ 9.2% | 174 MW | 74 MW | 3 | — |
| Marion County | 28,242 | ▼ 1.7% | 25 MW | 10 MW | — | — |
| Marlboro County | 25,488 | ▼ 20.5% | 63 MW | — | — | — |
| Robeson County NC | 119,941 | ▼ 5.3% | 419 MW | 108 MW | — | — |
More of South Carolina
Dillon County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Dillon County, South Carolina?
2 utilities have service territory in Dillon County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Duke Energy Progress - (NC), MPD Electric Cooperative. The largest, Duke Energy Progress - (NC), charged residential customers 14.88¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Dillon County?
2 operating plants with 15 MW of capacity. The largest is Whitetail Solar (10 MW, solar).
How much new power is planned in Dillon County?
81 MW across 2 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Melsam Solar.
Are there data centers in Dillon County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Dillon County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Horry County.
Is Dillon County adding jobs?
Employers counted 9,422 jobs in 2025 against 9,165 in 2019 (+2.8%, BLS QCEW).
Does Dillon County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Dillon County. South Carolina has 22 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.