Cleveland 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 | 231 hrs | 41,519 (66%) | Tropical Storm |
| Oct 23, 2017 | 75 hrs | 6,713 (11%) | Tornado |
| May 8, 2024 | 29 hrs | 6,448 (10%) | Tornado |
| Jul 14, 2023 | 10 hrs | 5,348 (9%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
| Jun 1, 2018 | 18 hrs | 5,322 (8%) | Hail |
Was There an Outage on a Specific Date?
Pick a date to see whether a power outage was recorded for Cleveland County, North Carolina that day.
Over the 12 years from 2014 to 2025, Cleveland County recorded 737 distinct power outage events, averaging 3.9 hours per event.
The single worst outage on record in Cleveland County started September 27, 2024 (Tropical Storm), lasting 231 hours and leaving up to 41,519 customers without power (66% of the county) at its peak.
July has historically been the worst month for outages in Cleveland County, with 95 events recorded during that month across the dataset.
Based on this history, Cleveland County earns a Reliability Grade of D, placing it in the 22nd percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).
Similar counties in North Carolina
Counties with the closest reliability grade and national percentile to Cleveland County.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Stokes County | D | 22nd |
| Washington County | D | 23rd |
| Vance County | D | 21st |
| Anson County | D | 21st |
| Henderson 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 Cleveland County?
Between 2014 and 2025, Cleveland County recorded 737 outage events, averaging 3.9 hours each.
What is Cleveland County's reliability grade?
Cleveland County has a Reliability Grade of D, in the 22nd national percentile.
What was the worst power outage in Cleveland County?
The worst outage on record started September 27, 2024 (Tropical Storm), lasting 231 hours and affecting up to 41,519 customers.