PowerOutageHistory
C

Lee County Power Outage History

20142025 · North Carolina

Average — typical outage frequency and duration nationally. How grades are calculated

Total events
1,210
Avg duration
2.6 hrs
Longest outage
98 hrs
National percentile
41st

Outages by year

Outages by month (seasonality)

Worst outage events on record

DateDurationCustomers affectedCause
Jan 26, 20177 hrs19,796 (37%)Unnamed event
Oct 8, 201698 hrs13,468 (25%)Hurricane Matthew
Apr 11, 202415 hrs11,501 (22%)Unnamed event
Sep 15, 201830 hrs9,775 (18%)Hurricane Florence
Apr 13, 202033 hrs8,972 (17%)Thunderstorm Wind

Over the 12 years from 2014 to 2025, Lee County recorded 1,210 distinct power outage events, averaging 2.6 hours per event.

The single worst outage on record in Lee County started January 26, 2017, lasting 7 hours and leaving up to 19,796 customers without power (37% of the county) at its peak.

July has historically been the worst month for outages in Lee County, with 159 events recorded during that month across the dataset.

Based on this history, Lee County earns a Reliability Grade of C, placing it in the 41st percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).

Sized for Lee 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 Lee County.

CountyGradeNational percentile
Gates CountyC41st
Alamance CountyC41st
Gaston CountyC41st
Carteret CountyC40th
Bertie CountyC42nd

FAQ

How often does power go out in Lee County?

Between 2014 and 2025, Lee County recorded 1,210 outage events, averaging 2.6 hours each.

What is Lee County's reliability grade?

Lee County has a Reliability Grade of C, in the 41st national percentile.

What was the worst power outage in Lee County?

The worst outage on record started January 26, 2017, lasting 7 hours and affecting up to 19,796 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.