Buncombe County Power Outage History
2014–2025 · North Carolina
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 12, 2022 | 1 hrs | 30,158 (17%) | Winter Weather |
| Apr 1, 2023 | 6 hrs | 27,327 (15%) | Strong Wind |
| Jul 6, 2018 | 2 hrs | 26,554 (15%) | Unnamed event |
| Apr 2, 2023 | 1 hrs | 24,618 (14%) | Strong Wind |
| Dec 9, 2018 | 69 hrs | 24,498 (14%) | Heavy Snow |
Over the 12 years from 2014 to 2025, Buncombe County recorded 2,641 distinct power outage events, averaging 2.6 hours per event.
The single worst outage on record in Buncombe County started March 12, 2022 (Winter Weather), lasting 1 hours and leaving up to 30,158 customers without power (17% of the county) at its peak.
July has historically been the worst month for outages in Buncombe County, with 309 events recorded during that month across the dataset.
Based on this history, Buncombe County earns a Reliability Grade of C, placing it in the 56th percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).
Sized for Buncombe County's outage profile
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Similar counties in North Carolina
Counties with the closest reliability grade and national percentile to Buncombe County.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Alleghany County | C | 57th |
| Martin County | C | 57th |
| Cumberland County | C | 57th |
| Randolph County | C | 56th |
| Clay County | C | 56th |
FAQ
How often does power go out in Buncombe County?
Between 2014 and 2025, Buncombe County recorded 2,641 outage events, averaging 2.6 hours each.
What is Buncombe County's reliability grade?
Buncombe County has a Reliability Grade of C, in the 56th national percentile.
What was the worst power outage in Buncombe County?
The worst outage on record started March 12, 2022 (Winter Weather), lasting 1 hours and affecting up to 30,158 customers.