Harding CountyPower Outage History
2017–2025 · South Dakota
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 17, 2020 | <1 hr | 420 (72%) | Unnamed event |
| Feb 27, 2023 | 3 hrs | 417 (71%) | Winter Weather |
| Mar 8, 2020 | 2 hrs | 414 (71%) | High Wind |
| Sep 12, 2020 | 27 hrs | 413 (71%) | Unnamed event |
| Sep 9, 2020 | 9 hrs | 413 (71%) | Unnamed event |
Over the 9 years from 2017 to 2025, Harding County recorded 405 distinct power outage events, averaging 4.1 hours per event.
The single worst outage on record in Harding County started March 17, 2020, lasting less than 1 hour and leaving up to 420 customers without power (72% of the county) at its peak.
June has historically been the worst month for outages in Harding County, with 54 events recorded during that month across the dataset.
Based on this history, Harding County earns a Reliability Grade of D, placing it in the 21st percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).
Sized for Harding County's outage profile
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Read our mission →Similar counties in South Dakota
Counties with the closest reliability grade and national percentile to Harding County.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Perkins County | D | 29th |
| Custer County | D | 30th |
| Grant County | D | 31st |
| Marshall County | D | 37th |
| McCook County | C | 43rd |
Most reliable counties in South Dakota
The top 3 counties in South Dakota by reliability grade and percentile.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Clay County | A | 100th |
| Codington County | A | 98th |
| Tripp County | A | 98th |
Least reliable counties in South Dakota
The bottom 3 counties in South Dakota by reliability grade and percentile.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Harding County | D | 21st |
| Perkins County | D | 29th |
| Custer County | D | 30th |
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 Harding County?
Between 2017 and 2025, Harding County recorded 405 outage events, averaging 4.1 hours each.
What is Harding County's reliability grade?
Harding County has a Reliability Grade of D, in the 21st national percentile.
What was the worst power outage in Harding County?
The worst outage on record started March 17, 2020, lasting less than 1 hour and affecting up to 420 customers.