Wake 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 8, 2016 | 98 hrs | 119,303 (21%) | Hurricane Matthew |
| Jun 17, 2022 | 24 hrs | 95,005 (17%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
| Feb 26, 2015 | 48 hrs | 92,954 (16%) | Winter Weather |
| Sep 30, 2022 | 51 hrs | 91,342 (16%) | Hurricane Ian |
| Aug 7, 2023 | 11 hrs | 79,920 (14%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
Over the 12 years from 2014 to 2025, Wake County recorded 3,985 distinct power outage events, averaging 2.1 hours per event.
The single worst outage on record in Wake County started October 8, 2016 (Hurricane Matthew), lasting 98 hours and leaving up to 119,303 customers without power (21% of the county) at its peak.
July has historically been the worst month for outages in Wake County, with 528 events recorded during that month across the dataset.
Based on this history, Wake County earns a Reliability Grade of C, placing it in the 52nd 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 Wake County.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | C | 52nd |
| Madison County | C | 53rd |
| Yancey County | C | 51st |
| Wayne County | C | 50th |
| Northampton County | C | 50th |
FAQ
How often does power go out in Wake County?
Between 2014 and 2025, Wake County recorded 3,985 outage events, averaging 2.1 hours each.
What is Wake County's reliability grade?
Wake County has a Reliability Grade of C, in the 52nd national percentile.
What was the worst power outage in Wake County?
The worst outage on record started October 8, 2016 (Hurricane Matthew), lasting 98 hours and affecting up to 119,303 customers.