Powell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2024 | 34 hrs | 5,632 (68%) | Hurricane Helene |
| Nov 27, 2023 | 4 hrs | 5,544 (67%) | Unnamed event |
| Mar 13, 2023 | <1 hr | 4,654 (56%) | Unnamed event |
| Jun 7, 2017 | <1 hr | 3,193 (39%) | Unnamed event |
| Aug 2, 2024 | 1 hrs | 2,924 (35%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
Was There an Outage on a Specific Date?
Pick a date to see whether a power outage was recorded for Powell County, Kentucky that day.
Over the 11 years from 2015 to 2025, Powell County recorded 580 distinct power outage events, averaging 3.1 hours per event.
The single worst outage on record in Powell County started September 27, 2024 (Hurricane Helene), lasting 34 hours and leaving up to 5,632 customers without power (68% of the county) at its peak.
June has historically been the worst month for outages in Powell County, with 75 events recorded during that month across the dataset.
Based on this history, Powell County earns a Reliability Grade of D, placing it in the 25th percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).
Similar counties in Kentucky
Counties with the closest reliability grade and national percentile to Powell County.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Hickman County | D | 24th |
| Metcalfe County | D | 24th |
| Rowan County | D | 25th |
| Fleming County | D | 26th |
| Bath County | D | 23rd |
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 Powell County?
Between 2015 and 2025, Powell County recorded 580 outage events, averaging 3.1 hours each.
What is Powell County's reliability grade?
Powell County has a Reliability Grade of D, in the 25th national percentile.
What was the worst power outage in Powell County?
The worst outage on record started September 27, 2024 (Hurricane Helene), lasting 34 hours and affecting up to 5,632 customers.