PowerOutageHistory
Reliability Grade
B
Better than average
2014-2025
Iowa

Des Moines CountyPower Outage History

20142025 · Iowa
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What this grade means

Better than average — fewer or shorter outages than most counties. This county's outage history is better than the national median: recorded outages are less frequent and/or shorter in duration than a typical US county experienced over the same 12-year period. It isn't in the top tier nationally, but its track record points to lower-than-average outage risk.

Takeaway
Lower-than-average outage risk
Reliability Rank
Fuller bar = more reliable
Nationwide63rd pct
In Iowa#54 of 99
See full Iowa rankings →
Total events
456
Recorded 2014–2025
Avg duration
2.1 hrs
Per outage event
Longest outage
33 hrs
Single worst event on record
Customers served
18,682
Utility customers in county

Outages by year

Outages by month (seasonality)

Worst outage events on record

DateDurationCustomers affectedCause
Aug 28, 202430 hrs7,944 (43%)Thunderstorm Wind
Aug 10, 20208 hrs6,658 (36%)Thunderstorm Wind
Jun 21, 20158 hrs6,275 (34%)Thunderstorm Wind
Jun 11, 20215 hrs4,966 (27%)Thunderstorm Wind
Mar 31, 202326 hrs4,732 (25%)Thunderstorm Wind

Was There an Outage on a Specific Date?

Pick a date to see whether a power outage was recorded for Des Moines County, Iowa that day.

Over the 12 years from 2014 to 2025, Des Moines County recorded 456 distinct power outage events, averaging 2.1 hours per event.

The single worst outage on record in Des Moines County started August 28, 2024 (Thunderstorm Wind), lasting 30 hours and leaving up to 7,944 customers without power (43% of the county) at its peak.

June has historically been the worst month for outages in Des Moines County, with 61 events recorded during that month across the dataset.

Based on this history, Des Moines County earns a Reliability Grade of B, placing it in the 63rd percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).

Similar counties in Iowa

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

CountyGradeNational percentile
Fremont CountyB64th
Wright CountyB62nd
Ida CountyB62nd
Harrison CountyB61st
Lee CountyB61st

Most reliable counties nationally

The top 3 counties nationally by reliability grade and percentile.

CountyStateGradeNational percentile
Clay CountySouth DakotaA100th
Clearwater CountyMinnesotaA99th
Limestone CountyAlabamaA99th

Least reliable counties nationally

The bottom 3 counties nationally by reliability grade and percentile.

FAQ

How often does power go out in Des Moines County?

Between 2014 and 2025, Des Moines County recorded 456 outage events, averaging 2.1 hours each.

What is Des Moines County's reliability grade?

Des Moines County has a Reliability Grade of B, in the 63rd national percentile.

What was the worst power outage in Des Moines County?

The worst outage on record started August 28, 2024 (Thunderstorm Wind), lasting 30 hours and affecting up to 7,944 customers.

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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.