Harlan CountyPower Outage History
What this grade means
Worse than average — more frequent or longer outages than most counties. This county's recorded history shows more frequent outages and/or longer restoration times than most US counties over the same 12-year period. If you live here, it's worth taking backup power more seriously than an average household would.
Outages by year
Outages by month (seasonality)
Worst outage events on record
| Date | Duration | Customers affected | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 2025 | 67 hrs | 5,681 (38%) | Unnamed event |
| Jun 18, 2025 | 2 hrs | 5,451 (36%) | Unnamed event |
| Sep 27, 2024 | 107 hrs | 5,286 (35%) | Hurricane Helene |
| Nov 12, 2025 | <1 hr | 3,949 (26%) | Unnamed event |
| Jun 17, 2016 | 4 hrs | 3,460 (23%) | Unnamed event |
Was There an Outage on a Specific Date?
Pick a date to see whether a power outage was recorded for Harlan County, Kentucky that day.
Over the 12 years from 2014 to 2025, Harlan County recorded 905 distinct power outage events, averaging 2.8 hours per event.
The single worst outage on record in Harlan County started May 17, 2025, lasting 67 hours and leaving up to 5,681 customers without power (38% of the county) at its peak.
May has historically been the worst month for outages in Harlan County, with 127 events recorded during that month across the dataset.
Based on this history, Harlan County earns a Reliability Grade of D, placing it in the 32nd percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).
Similar counties in Kentucky
Counties with the closest reliability grade and national percentile to Harlan County.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Hart County | D | 33rd |
| Pulaski County | D | 33rd |
| Robertson County | D | 33rd |
| Russell County | D | 31st |
| Hopkins County | D | 31st |
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 Harlan County?
Between 2014 and 2025, Harlan County recorded 905 outage events, averaging 2.8 hours each.
What is Harlan County's reliability grade?
Harlan County has a Reliability Grade of D, in the 32nd national percentile.
What was the worst power outage in Harlan County?
The worst outage on record started May 17, 2025, lasting 67 hours and affecting up to 5,681 customers.