Columbus County Power Outage History
2014–2025 · North Carolina
Worse than average — more frequent or longer outages than most counties. How grades are calculated
Outages by year
Outages by month (seasonality)
Worst outage events on record
| Date | Duration | Customers affected | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 15, 2018 | 228 hrs | 28,889 (45%) | Hurricane Florence |
| Oct 8, 2016 | 322 hrs | 28,403 (45%) | Hurricane Matthew |
| Sep 14, 2018 | 18 hrs | 28,078 (44%) | Unnamed event |
| Sep 30, 2022 | 39 hrs | 10,697 (17%) | Hurricane Ian |
| Apr 13, 2020 | 11 hrs | 8,768 (14%) | Tornado |
Over the 12 years from 2014 to 2025, Columbus County recorded 528 distinct power outage events, averaging 3.1 hours per event.
The single worst outage on record in Columbus County started September 15, 2018 (Hurricane Florence), lasting 228 hours and leaving up to 28,889 customers without power (45% of the county) at its peak.
July has historically been the worst month for outages in Columbus County, with 91 events recorded during that month across the dataset.
Based on this history, Columbus County earns a Reliability Grade of D, placing it in the 26th percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).
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Similar counties in North Carolina
Counties with the closest reliability grade and national percentile to Columbus County.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Sampson County | D | 26th |
| Cherokee County | D | 25th |
| Rutherford County | D | 24th |
| Warren County | D | 28th |
| Bladen County | D | 28th |
FAQ
How often does power go out in Columbus County?
Between 2014 and 2025, Columbus County recorded 528 outage events, averaging 3.1 hours each.
What is Columbus County's reliability grade?
Columbus County has a Reliability Grade of D, in the 26th national percentile.
What was the worst power outage in Columbus County?
The worst outage on record started September 15, 2018 (Hurricane Florence), lasting 228 hours and affecting up to 28,889 customers.