Merced County Power Outage History
2018–2025 · California
Better than average — fewer or shorter outages than most counties. How grades are calculated
Outages by year
Outages by month (seasonality)
Worst outage events on record
| Date | Duration | Customers affected | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 11, 2022 | 5 hrs | 19,037 (23%) | Drought |
| Mar 13, 2025 | 2 hrs | 17,949 (22%) | High Wind |
| Jan 10, 2020 | 3 hrs | 14,687 (18%) | Unnamed event |
| Nov 3, 2021 | 3 hrs | 11,688 (14%) | Drought |
| Jan 27, 2021 | 33 hrs | 9,587 (12%) | Unnamed event |
Over the 8 years from 2018 to 2025, Merced County recorded 962 distinct power outage events, averaging 2.2 hours per event.
The single worst outage on record in Merced County started December 11, 2022 (Drought), lasting 5 hours and leaving up to 19,037 customers without power (23% of the county) at its peak.
November has historically been the worst month for outages in Merced County, with 91 events recorded during that month across the dataset.
Based on this history, Merced County earns a Reliability Grade of B, placing it in the 70th percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).
Sized for Merced County's outage profile
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Similar counties in California
Counties with the closest reliability grade and national percentile to Merced County.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Fresno County | B | 71st |
| San Francisco County | B | 73rd |
| Alameda County | B | 68th |
| Imperial County | B | 75th |
| Modoc County | B | 75th |
FAQ
How often does power go out in Merced County?
Between 2018 and 2025, Merced County recorded 962 outage events, averaging 2.2 hours each.
What is Merced County's reliability grade?
Merced County has a Reliability Grade of B, in the 70th national percentile.
What was the worst power outage in Merced County?
The worst outage on record started December 11, 2022 (Drought), lasting 5 hours and affecting up to 19,037 customers.