Bristol County Power Outage History
2014–2025 · Rhode Island
Worse than average — more frequent or longer outages than most counties. How grades are calculated
Outages by year
Outages by month (seasonality)
Worst outage events on record
| Date | Duration | Customers affected | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 2019 | 3 hrs | 23,284 (69%) | Unnamed event |
| Oct 27, 2021 | 22 hrs | 19,130 (57%) | Unnamed event |
| May 1, 2019 | 0 hrs | 19,073 (56%) | Unnamed event |
| Oct 30, 2017 | 101 hrs | 17,119 (51%) | Tropical Storm Phillipe |
| Mar 2, 2018 | 70 hrs | 15,400 (46%) | Unnamed event |
Over the 12 years from 2014 to 2025, Bristol County recorded 181 distinct power outage events, averaging 4.3 hours per event.
The single worst outage on record in Bristol County started April 15, 2019, lasting 3 hours and leaving up to 23,284 customers without power (69% of the county) at its peak.
July has historically been the worst month for outages in Bristol County, with 35 events recorded during that month across the dataset.
Based on this history, Bristol County earns a Reliability Grade of D, placing it in the 34th percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).
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Similar counties in Rhode Island
Counties with the closest reliability grade and national percentile to Bristol County.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Kent County | D | 38th |
| Providence County | C | 48th |
| Washington County | F | 15th |
| Newport County | B | 77th |
FAQ
How often does power go out in Bristol County?
Between 2014 and 2025, Bristol County recorded 181 outage events, averaging 4.3 hours each.
What is Bristol County's reliability grade?
Bristol County has a Reliability Grade of D, in the 34th national percentile.
What was the worst power outage in Bristol County?
The worst outage on record started April 15, 2019, lasting 3 hours and affecting up to 23,284 customers.