PowerOutageHistory
D

Harnett County Power Outage History

20142025 · North Carolina

Worse than average — more frequent or longer outages than most counties. How grades are calculated

Total events
1,386
Avg duration
2.9 hrs
Longest outage
126 hrs
National percentile
31st

Outages by year

Outages by month (seasonality)

Worst outage events on record

DateDurationCustomers affectedCause
Oct 8, 2016126 hrs29,527 (35%)Hurricane Matthew
Sep 15, 201830 hrs22,331 (27%)Hurricane Florence
Sep 14, 201816 hrs20,032 (24%)Hurricane Florence
Jan 22, 201656 hrs19,153 (23%)Winter Storm
Feb 12, 20191 hrs13,627 (16%)Unnamed event

Over the 12 years from 2014 to 2025, Harnett County recorded 1,386 distinct power outage events, averaging 2.9 hours per event.

The single worst outage on record in Harnett County started October 8, 2016 (Hurricane Matthew), lasting 126 hours and leaving up to 29,527 customers without power (35% of the county) at its peak.

July has historically been the worst month for outages in Harnett County, with 216 events recorded during that month across the dataset.

Based on this history, Harnett County earns a Reliability Grade of D, placing it in the 31st percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).

Sized for Harnett County's outage profile

See more picks in our Best Dual-Fuel Portable Generators for Power Outages roundup.

Outage-prep kit

See our outage-prep guides or the North Carolina storm prep checklist.

Similar counties in North Carolina

Counties with the closest reliability grade and national percentile to Harnett County.

CountyGradeNational percentile
Hoke CountyD30th
Guilford CountyD30th
Robeson CountyD29th
Catawba CountyD28th
Montgomery CountyD33rd

FAQ

How often does power go out in Harnett County?

Between 2014 and 2025, Harnett County recorded 1,386 outage events, averaging 2.9 hours each.

What is Harnett County's reliability grade?

Harnett County has a Reliability Grade of D, in the 31st national percentile.

What was the worst power outage in Harnett County?

The worst outage on record started October 8, 2016 (Hurricane Matthew), lasting 126 hours and affecting up to 29,527 customers.

Data: ORNL EAGLE-I Recorded Electricity Outages (2014–2025), CC BY 4.0. Storm names: NOAA Storm Events Database. Last data refresh: 2025. See methodology.