District of Columbia, District of Columbia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Washington
District of Columbia is one of the places the data center build-out is physically happening. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 9 data centers in the District of Columbia, 100% of the the District's total. District of Columbia and the city of Washington share the same boundaries. 6 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by Howard University (natural gas), the largest pipeline among the District's counties. 6 MW of it is already under construction or built. Electrical contractors employ 2,324, at an average $96,590 a year. 35 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar.
Cities and towns in the District of Columbia
District of Columbia and the city of Washington share the same boundaries.
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 the District of Columbia
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in the District of Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 670,958 | 693,645 | ▲ 3.4% | 1st of 1 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 775,978 | 741,567 | ▼ 4.4% | 1st of 1 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $98,049 | $128,892 | ▲ 31.5% | — |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,858 | 2,324 | ▲ 25.1% | — |
| Data processing and hosting jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,189 | 1,653 | ▲ 39.0% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.5% | 5.8% | ▲ 0.3pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 35 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 6 MW | 8% of today's fleet | 1st of 1 by size |
Employers here counted 741,567 jobs in 2025, down 4.4% from 2019 (the fastest growth of 1 District of Columbia counties). Its power plants have 72 MW of capacity, 49% of it solar, the largest fleet in the District of Columbia. Potomac Electric Power Co is the largest utility serving District of Columbia. Its residential customers paid an average 16.58¢/kWh in 2024. Unemployment was 5.8% in August 2026, against 5.5% in 2019. 693,645 people live here, up 3.4% since 2020, 1st of 1 District of Columbia counties by population.
Who powers District of Columbia
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +35 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in the District of Columbia
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potomac Electric Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 318,780 | 16.58¢ | 37% |
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 21
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 35 MW | 49% |
| Natural gas | 23 MW | 32% |
| Other technologies | 14 MW | 20% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walt Bailey Bioenergy Facility | DC Water | Other technologies | 14 MW | 2015 |
| US GSA Heating and Transmission | US GSA Heating and Transmission | Natural gas | 11 MW | 2004 |
| AOC, Capitol Power Plant | Architect of the Capitol, Capitol Power Plant | Natural gas | 8 MW | 2018 |
| JBAB - Washington DC | JBAB Solar I, LLC. | Solar | 6 MW | 2019 |
| Ross Hall Central Utility Plant | The George Washington University | Natural gas | 5 MW | 2016 |
| V Street Solar | V Street Solar, LLC | Solar | 4 MW | 2025 |
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHP Plant | Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine | 6 MW | Under construction (>50%) | 2026 | Howard University |
The District of Columbia labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 741,567 | $128,892 | 1.00 |
| Electrical contractors | 2,324 | $96,590 | 0.43 |
| Electric utilities | 812 | $160,000 | 0.40 |
| Data processing and hosting | 1,653 | $258,622 | 0.72 |
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 the District of Columbia
9 data centers in the District of Columbia are on the SAVRN Data Center Map.
District of Columbia and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border District of Columbia, Fairfax 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 693,645 | ▼ 4.4% | 72 MW | 6 MW | 9 | — |
| Alexandria (city) VA | 160,662 | ▼ 11.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Arlington County VA | 243,931 | ▼ 0.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Fairfax County VA | 1,167,873 | ▲ 2.0% | 133 MW | — | 45 | 1 |
| Montgomery County MD | 1,074,582 | ▼ 3.4% | 500 MW | — | 10 | 3 |
| Prince George's County MD | 970,374 | ▲ 1.9% | 3,100 MW | 12 MW | 5 | 3 |
More of the District of Columbia
District of Columbia, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in the District of Columbia, District of Columbia?
1 utility has service territory in the District of Columbia in the EIA-861 2024 report: Potomac Electric Power Co. The largest, Potomac Electric Power Co, charged residential customers 16.58¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Washington, DC in?
Washington is in the District of Columbia, District of Columbia. About 693,645 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What power plants are in the District of Columbia?
21 operating plants with 72 MW of capacity. The largest is Walt Bailey Bioenergy Facility (14 MW, other technologies).
How much new power is planned in the District of Columbia?
6 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 6 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Howard University.
Are there data centers in the District of Columbia?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 9 data centers in the District of Columbia.
Is District of Columbia adding jobs?
Employers counted 741,567 jobs in 2025 against 775,978 in 2019 (-4.4%, BLS QCEW).
Does District of Columbia have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for the District of Columbia. District of Columbia has 0 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.