Pickens CountyPower Outage History
What this grade means
Worse than average — more frequent or longer outages than most counties. This county's recorded history shows more frequent outages and/or longer restoration times than most US counties over the same 12-year period. If you live here, it's worth taking backup power more seriously than an average household would.
Outages by year
Outages by month (seasonality)
Worst outage events on record
| Date | Duration | Customers affected | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2024 | 304 hrs | 46,768 (41%) | Flash Flood |
| Jul 27, 2021 | 3 hrs | 30,506 (26%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
| Oct 29, 2020 | 103 hrs | 27,670 (24%) | Unnamed event |
| Apr 13, 2020 | 37 hrs | 22,683 (20%) | Tornado |
| Sep 11, 2017 | 95 hrs | 15,242 (13%) | Unnamed event |
Was There an Outage on a Specific Date?
Pick a date to see whether a power outage was recorded for Pickens County, South Carolina that day.
Over the 12 years from 2014 to 2025, Pickens County recorded 776 distinct power outage events, averaging 3.1 hours per event.
The single worst outage on record in Pickens County started September 27, 2024 (Flash Flood), lasting 304 hours and leaving up to 46,768 customers without power (41% of the county) at its peak.
June has historically been the worst month for outages in Pickens County, with 108 events recorded during that month across the dataset.
Based on this history, Pickens County earns a Reliability Grade of D, placing it in the 24th percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).
Similar counties in South Carolina
Counties with the closest reliability grade and national percentile to Pickens County.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Greenwood County | D | 23rd |
| Newberry County | D | 23rd |
| Saluda County | D | 22nd |
| Edgefield County | D | 21st |
| Cherokee County | D | 27th |
Most reliable counties nationally
The top 3 counties nationally by reliability grade and percentile.
| County | State | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | South Dakota | A | 100th |
| Clearwater County | Minnesota | A | 99th |
| Limestone County | Alabama | A | 99th |
Least reliable counties nationally
The bottom 3 counties nationally by reliability grade and percentile.
| County | State | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | West Virginia | F | 0th |
| Lincoln County | West Virginia | F | 0th |
| Cameron Parish | Louisiana | F | 0th |
FAQ
How often does power go out in Pickens County?
Between 2014 and 2025, Pickens County recorded 776 outage events, averaging 3.1 hours each.
What is Pickens County's reliability grade?
Pickens County has a Reliability Grade of D, in the 24th national percentile.
What was the worst power outage in Pickens County?
The worst outage on record started September 27, 2024 (Flash Flood), lasting 304 hours and affecting up to 46,768 customers.