Wayne 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 | 189 hrs | 27,873 (32%) | Hurricane Matthew |
| Dec 24, 2022 | 13 hrs | 19,927 (23%) | Unnamed event |
| Sep 15, 2018 | 30 hrs | 19,546 (22%) | Hurricane Florence |
| Sep 13, 2018 | 24 hrs | 17,193 (20%) | Hurricane Florence |
| Sep 16, 2018 | 61 hrs | 12,979 (15%) | Hurricane Florence |
Over the 12 years from 2014 to 2025, Wayne County recorded 909 distinct power outage events, averaging 2.8 hours per event.
The single worst outage on record in Wayne County started October 8, 2016 (Hurricane Matthew), lasting 189 hours and leaving up to 27,873 customers without power (32% of the county) at its peak.
June has historically been the worst month for outages in Wayne County, with 94 events recorded during that month across the dataset.
Based on this history, Wayne County earns a Reliability Grade of C, placing it in the 50th percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).
Sized for Wayne County's outage profile
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Similar counties in North Carolina
Counties with the closest reliability grade and national percentile to Wayne County.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Northampton County | C | 50th |
| Nash County | C | 49th |
| Yancey County | C | 51st |
| Wake County | C | 52nd |
| Lincoln County | C | 52nd |
FAQ
How often does power go out in Wayne County?
Between 2014 and 2025, Wayne County recorded 909 outage events, averaging 2.8 hours each.
What is Wayne County's reliability grade?
Wayne County has a Reliability Grade of C, in the 50th national percentile.
What was the worst power outage in Wayne County?
The worst outage on record started October 8, 2016 (Hurricane Matthew), lasting 189 hours and affecting up to 27,873 customers.