Stevens County, Washington: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Colville, Chewelah and Kettle Falls
No data center or power plant project is on record in Stevens County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Stevens County is home to Colville, Chewelah and Kettle Falls. Unemployment was 4.9% in August 2026, against 7.4% in 2019. Next door, Spokane County has 7 data centers. Construction employs 493, up 2.7% since 2019. Employers here counted 11,227 jobs in 2025, up 3.9% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Stevens County
Stevens County is home to Colville, Chewelah and Kettle Falls.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Addy, Clayton, Loon Lake, Suncrest, Valley.
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 Stevens County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 46,585 | 49,668 | ▲ 6.6% | 22nd of 39 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 10,804 | 11,227 | ▲ 3.9% | 17th of 39 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $40,637 | $55,738 | ▲ 37.2% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 480 | 493 | ▲ 2.7% | 20th of 33 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 7.4% | 4.9% | ▼ 2.5pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Its power plants have 61 MW of capacity, 83% of it other technologies. Avista Corp is the largest utility serving Stevens County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 11.87¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.07¢ median for Washington utilities. 49,668 people live here, up 6.6% since 2020.
Who powers Stevens County
Utilities with service territory in Stevens County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avista Corp | Investor Owned | Bundled | 246,055 | 11.87¢ | 37% |
| Inland Power & Light Company | Cooperative | Bundled | 41,684 | 8.98¢ | 20% |
| Bonneville Power Administration | Federal | Bundled | — | — | 56% |
| City of Chewelah | — | — | — | — | — |
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 3
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Other technologies | 51 MW | 83% |
| Natural gas | 7 MW | 12% |
| Hydro | 3 MW | 6% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle Falls Generating Station | Avista Corp | Other technologies | 58 MW | 1983 |
| Meyers Falls | Hydro Technology Systems Inc | Hydro | 2 MW | 1915 |
| Sheep Creek Hydro | Sheep Creek Hydro Inc | Hydro | 2 MW | 1986 |
The Stevens County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 11,227 | $55,738 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 493 | $57,233 | 0.83 |
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 Stevens County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Stevens County. Washington has 21 local measures on record statewide, and 2 neighboring counties have one: Lincoln County, Spokane County.
Stevens County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Stevens County, Spokane 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stevens County | 49,668 | ▲ 3.9% | 61 MW | — | — | — |
| Ferry County | 7,517 | ▲ 1.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Lincoln County | 11,982 | ▼ 0.6% | 113 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Pend Oreille County | 14,457 | ▲ 2.2% | 1,250 MW | — | — | — |
| Spokane County | 558,344 | ▲ 6.7% | 192 MW | — | 7 | 1 |
More of Washington
Stevens County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Stevens County, Washington?
4 utilities have service territory in Stevens County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Avista Corp, Inland Power & Light Company, Bonneville Power Administration, City of Chewelah. The largest, Avista Corp, charged residential customers 11.87¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Stevens County?
3 operating plants with 61 MW of capacity. The largest is Kettle Falls Generating Station (58 MW, other technologies).
Are there data centers in Stevens County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Stevens County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Spokane County.
Is Stevens County adding jobs?
Employers counted 11,227 jobs in 2025 against 10,804 in 2019 (+3.9%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 480 to 493.
Does Stevens County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Stevens County. Washington has 21 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.