Okanogan County, Washington: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Omak, Okanogan and Brewster
No data center or power plant project is on record in Okanogan County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Okanogan County is home to Omak, Okanogan, Brewster and Oroville. Unemployment was 4.5% in August 2026, against 7.0% in 2019. Construction employs 561, up 21.2% since 2019. Next door, Grant County has 27 data centers and 650 MW of planned generation. Electrical contractors employ 45, up 25.0% since 2019 against up 6.1% statewide, at an average $76,675 a year.
Cities and towns in Okanogan County
Okanogan County is home to Omak, Okanogan, Brewster and Oroville.
- Coulee Dam also extends into Douglas County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Disautel, Loomis, Malott, Methow, Nespelem Community, North Omak.
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 Okanogan County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 42,143 | 45,230 | ▲ 7.3% | 26th of 39 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 16,823 | 17,526 | ▲ 4.2% | 13th of 39 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $35,350 | $50,515 | ▲ 42.9% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 463 | 561 | ▲ 21.2% | 9th of 33 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 36 | 45 | ▲ 25.0% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 7.0% | 4.5% | ▼ 2.5pts | — |
Employers here counted 17,526 jobs in 2025, up 4.2% from 2019. PUD No 1 of Chelan County is the largest utility serving Okanogan County, one of 7 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 3.67¢/kWh in 2024, below the 10.07¢ median for Washington utilities. 45,230 people live here, up 7.3% since 2020.
Who powers Okanogan County
Utilities with service territory in Okanogan County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PUD No 1 of Chelan County | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 42,120 | 3.67¢ | 26% |
| PUD No 1 of Okanogan County | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 18,133 | 10.23¢ | 50% |
| Bonneville Power Administration | Federal | Bundled | — | — | 56% |
| City of Coulee Dam - (WA) | — | — | — | — | — |
| PUD No 1 of Ferry County | — | — | — | — | — |
| Nespelem Valley Elec Coop, Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
| Okanogan County Elec Coop, Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Okanogan County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Okanogan County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 17,526 | $50,515 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 561 | $54,084 | 0.60 |
| Electrical contractors | 45 | $76,675 | 0.36 |
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 Okanogan County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Okanogan County. Washington has 21 local measures on record statewide, and 2 neighboring counties have one: Lincoln County, Skagit County.
Okanogan County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Okanogan County, Grant 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Okanogan County | 45,230 | ▲ 4.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Chelan County | 81,941 | ▲ 0.9% | 2,905 MW | 50 MW | — | — |
| Douglas County | 46,473 | ▼ 1.1% | 2,456 MW | — | 8 | — |
| Ferry County | 7,517 | ▲ 1.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Grant County | 105,727 | ▲ 5.8% | 9,098 MW | 650 MW | 27 | — |
| Lincoln County | 11,982 | ▼ 0.6% | 113 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Skagit County | 132,975 | ▲ 2.7% | 648 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Whatcom County | 236,392 | ▲ 1.7% | 1,719 MW | — | 2 | — |
More of Washington
Okanogan County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Okanogan County, Washington?
7 utilities have service territory in Okanogan County in the EIA-861 2024 report: PUD No 1 of Chelan County, PUD No 1 of Okanogan County, Bonneville Power Administration, City of Coulee Dam - (WA). The largest, PUD No 1 of Chelan County, charged residential customers 3.67¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Okanogan County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Okanogan County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Grant County.
Is Okanogan County adding jobs?
Employers counted 17,526 jobs in 2025 against 16,823 in 2019 (+4.2%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 463 to 561.
Does Okanogan County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Okanogan County. Washington has 21 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.