Franklin CountyPower Outage History
2014–2025 · Iowa
Better than average — fewer or shorter outages than most counties.
Outages by year
Outages by month (seasonality)
Worst outage events on record
| Date | Duration | Customers affected | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 16, 2021 | 40 hrs | 3,537 (55%) | Tornado |
| Jun 11, 2025 | 5 hrs | 1,813 (28%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
| May 21, 2024 | 11 hrs | 1,391 (22%) | Drought |
| May 24, 2024 | 3 hrs | 1,141 (18%) | Drought |
| May 21, 2024 | 5 hrs | 1,096 (17%) | Drought |
Over the 12 years from 2014 to 2025, Franklin County recorded 442 distinct power outage events, averaging 2.9 hours per event.
The single worst outage on record in Franklin County started December 16, 2021 (Tornado), lasting 40 hours and leaving up to 3,537 customers without power (55% of the county) at its peak.
July has historically been the worst month for outages in Franklin County, with 57 events recorded during that month across the dataset.
Based on this history, Franklin County earns a Reliability Grade of B, placing it in the 61st percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).
Sized for Franklin County's outage profile
See more picks in our Best Small Power Stations (Under 1,000Wh) roundup.
Outage-prep kit
See our outage-prep guides.
Similar counties in Iowa
Counties with the closest reliability grade and national percentile to Franklin County.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Fayette County | B | 61st |
| Polk County | B | 60th |
| Lee County | B | 61st |
| Harrison County | B | 61st |
| Ida County | B | 62nd |
Most reliable counties in Iowa
The top 3 counties in Iowa by reliability grade and percentile.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Clay County | A | 97th |
| Emmet County | A | 95th |
| Bremer County | A | 94th |
Least reliable counties in Iowa
The bottom 3 counties in Iowa by reliability grade and percentile.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Marshall County | F | 6th |
| Tama County | F | 12th |
| Jasper County | F | 14th |
Most reliable counties nationally
The top 3 counties nationally by reliability grade and percentile.
| County | State | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | South Dakota | A | 100th |
| Clearwater County | Minnesota | A | 99th |
| Limestone County | Alabama | A | 99th |
Least reliable counties nationally
The bottom 3 counties nationally by reliability grade and percentile.
| County | State | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | West Virginia | F | 0th |
| Lincoln County | West Virginia | F | 0th |
| Cameron Parish | Louisiana | F | 0th |
FAQ
How often does power go out in Franklin County?
Between 2014 and 2025, Franklin County recorded 442 outage events, averaging 2.9 hours each.
What is Franklin County's reliability grade?
Franklin County has a Reliability Grade of B, in the 61st national percentile.
What was the worst power outage in Franklin County?
The worst outage on record started December 16, 2021 (Tornado), lasting 40 hours and affecting up to 3,537 customers.