Essex County Power Outage History
2014–2025 · Massachusetts
Average — typical outage frequency and duration nationally. How grades are calculated
Outages by year
Outages by month (seasonality)
Worst outage events on record
| Date | Duration | Customers affected | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 8, 2018 | 91 hrs | 112,655 (25%) | High Wind |
| Oct 30, 2017 | 103 hrs | 78,644 (18%) | Tropical Storm Phillipe |
| Oct 17, 2019 | 83 hrs | 54,383 (12%) | Strong Wind |
| Mar 14, 2017 | 41 hrs | 43,083 (10%) | Blizzard |
| Oct 27, 2021 | 21 hrs | 43,048 (10%) | High Wind |
Over the 12 years from 2014 to 2025, Essex County recorded 2,335 distinct power outage events, averaging 2.8 hours per event.
The single worst outage on record in Essex County started March 8, 2018 (High Wind), lasting 91 hours and leaving up to 112,655 customers without power (25% of the county) at its peak.
July has historically been the worst month for outages in Essex County, with 228 events recorded during that month across the dataset.
Based on this history, Essex County earns a Reliability Grade of C, placing it in the 50th percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).
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Similar counties in Massachusetts
Counties with the closest reliability grade and national percentile to Essex County.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Nantucket County | C | 47th |
| Plymouth County | C | 47th |
| Worcester County | C | 55th |
| Barnstable County | D | 37th |
| Middlesex County | B | 64th |
FAQ
How often does power go out in Essex County?
Between 2014 and 2025, Essex County recorded 2,335 outage events, averaging 2.8 hours each.
What is Essex County's reliability grade?
Essex County has a Reliability Grade of C, in the 50th national percentile.
What was the worst power outage in Essex County?
The worst outage on record started March 8, 2018 (High Wind), lasting 91 hours and affecting up to 112,655 customers.