Charleston County Power Outage History
2014–2025 · South Carolina
Better than average — fewer or shorter 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 4, 2019 | 98 hrs | 137,536 (25%) | Coastal Flood |
| Oct 7, 2016 | 20 hrs | 97,936 (18%) | Storm Surge/Tide |
| Oct 8, 2016 | 117 hrs | 79,454 (15%) | Storm Surge/Tide |
| Sep 30, 2022 | 52 hrs | 77,760 (14%) | Hurricane Ian |
| Sep 11, 2017 | 84 hrs | 62,562 (11%) | Coastal Flood |
Over the 12 years from 2014 to 2025, Charleston County recorded 2,404 distinct power outage events, averaging 1.7 hours per event.
The single worst outage on record in Charleston County started September 4, 2019 (Coastal Flood), lasting 98 hours and leaving up to 137,536 customers without power (25% of the county) at its peak.
August has historically been the worst month for outages in Charleston County, with 282 events recorded during that month across the dataset.
Based on this history, Charleston County earns a Reliability Grade of B, placing it in the 69th percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).
Sized for Charleston County's outage profile
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Outage-prep kit
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Similar counties in South Carolina
Counties with the closest reliability grade and national percentile to Charleston County.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Beaufort County | B | 69th |
| Barnwell County | B | 68th |
| Lancaster County | B | 68th |
| Georgetown County | B | 72nd |
| Lexington County | B | 67th |
FAQ
How often does power go out in Charleston County?
Between 2014 and 2025, Charleston County recorded 2,404 outage events, averaging 1.7 hours each.
What is Charleston County's reliability grade?
Charleston County has a Reliability Grade of B, in the 69th national percentile.
What was the worst power outage in Charleston County?
The worst outage on record started September 4, 2019 (Coastal Flood), lasting 98 hours and affecting up to 137,536 customers.