PowerOutageHistory
D

Polk County Power Outage History

20142025 · Oregon

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

Total events
366
Avg duration
4.9 hrs
Longest outage
138 hrs
National percentile
37th

Outages by year

Outages by month (seasonality)

Worst outage events on record

DateDurationCustomers affectedCause
Feb 12, 2021138 hrs23,943 (57%)Unnamed event
Mar 2, 20210 hrs15,920 (38%)Unnamed event
Jun 10, 20225 hrs15,895 (38%)Unnamed event
Feb 3, 20249 hrs10,951 (26%)Flood
Jun 16, 20209 hrs10,496 (25%)Unnamed event

Over the 12 years from 2014 to 2025, Polk County recorded 366 distinct power outage events, averaging 4.9 hours per event.

The single worst outage on record in Polk County started February 12, 2021, lasting 138 hours and leaving up to 23,943 customers without power (57% of the county) at its peak.

August has historically been the worst month for outages in Polk County, with 44 events recorded during that month across the dataset.

Based on this history, Polk County earns a Reliability Grade of D, placing it in the 37th percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).

Sized for Polk 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.

Similar counties in Oregon

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

CountyGradeNational percentile
Josephine CountyD38th
Douglas CountyD35th
Yamhill CountyD32nd
Multnomah CountyD29th
Linn CountyC46th

FAQ

How often does power go out in Polk County?

Between 2014 and 2025, Polk County recorded 366 outage events, averaging 4.9 hours each.

What is Polk County's reliability grade?

Polk County has a Reliability Grade of D, in the 37th national percentile.

What was the worst power outage in Polk County?

The worst outage on record started February 12, 2021, lasting 138 hours and affecting up to 23,943 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.