PowerOutageHistory
B

Kern County Power Outage History

2014–2025 · California

Better than average — fewer or shorter outages than most counties. How grades are calculated

Total events
4,395
Avg duration
3.0 hrs
Longest outage
88 hrs
National percentile
60th

Outages by year

Outages by month (seasonality)

Worst outage events on record

DateDurationCustomers affectedCause
Jan 8, 20254 hrs79,327 (20%)High Wind
Nov 5, 202210 hrs50,079 (13%)Drought
Sep 11, 20230 hrs41,280 (10%)Unnamed event
Jun 11, 20221 hrs29,360 (7%)Drought
Jan 9, 20252 hrs20,062 (5%)High Wind

Over the 12 years from 2014 to 2025, Kern County recorded 4,395 distinct power outage events, averaging 3.0 hours per event.

The single worst outage on record in Kern County started January 8, 2025 (High Wind), lasting 4 hours and leaving up to 79,327 customers without power (20% of the county) at its peak.

July has historically been the worst month for outages in Kern County, with 423 events recorded during that month across the dataset.

Based on this history, Kern County earns a Reliability Grade of B, placing it in the 60th percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).

Sized for Kern County's outage profile

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Similar counties in California

Counties with the closest reliability grade and national percentile to Kern County.

CountyGradeNational percentile
San Diego CountyB61st
Sacramento CountyC59th
Contra Costa CountyC59th
Santa Clara CountyC56th
Sutter CountyB64th

FAQ

How often does power go out in Kern County?

Between 2014 and 2025, Kern County recorded 4,395 outage events, averaging 3.0 hours each.

What is Kern County's reliability grade?

Kern County has a Reliability Grade of B, in the 60th national percentile.

What was the worst power outage in Kern County?

The worst outage on record started January 8, 2025 (High Wind), lasting 4 hours and affecting up to 79,327 customers.

Data: ORNL EAGLE-I Recorded Electricity Outages (2014–2025), CC BY 4.0. Storm names: NOAA Storm Events Database. Last data refresh: 2025. See methodology.