Cape May 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 21, 2016 | 7 hrs | 37,421 (66%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
| Aug 4, 2020 | 104 hrs | 26,404 (47%) | Tropical Storm Isaias |
| Jan 23, 2016 | 47 hrs | 24,778 (44%) | Winter Weather |
| Jul 7, 2023 | 40 hrs | 24,403 (43%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
| Jun 22, 2016 | 30 hrs | 21,360 (38%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
Was There an Outage on a Specific Date?
Pick a date to see whether a power outage was recorded for Cape May County, New Jersey that day.
Over the 12 years from 2014 to 2025, Cape May County recorded 783 distinct power outage events, averaging 2.0 hours per event.
The single worst outage on record in Cape May County started June 21, 2016 (Thunderstorm Wind), lasting 7 hours and leaving up to 37,421 customers without power (66% of the county) at its peak.
July has historically been the worst month for outages in Cape May County, with 103 events recorded during that month across the dataset.
Based on this history, Cape May County earns a Reliability Grade of D, placing it in the 35th percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).
Similar counties in New Jersey
Counties with the closest reliability grade and national percentile to Cape May County.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean County | D | 35th |
| Salem County | D | 35th |
| Burlington County | D | 32nd |
| Gloucester County | D | 39th |
| Monmouth County | D | 26th |
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 Cape May County?
Between 2014 and 2025, Cape May County recorded 783 outage events, averaging 2.0 hours each.
What is Cape May County's reliability grade?
Cape May County has a Reliability Grade of D, in the 35th national percentile.
What was the worst power outage in Cape May County?
The worst outage on record started June 21, 2016 (Thunderstorm Wind), lasting 7 hours and affecting up to 37,421 customers.