Sanborn CountyPower Outage History
2014–2025 · South Dakota
Average — typical outage frequency and duration nationally. This county sits in the middle of the national distribution — its outage frequency and duration over the past 12 years are close to the nationwide median, neither notably better nor worse than most other US counties. A typical amount of backup-power preparedness is reasonable here.
Outages by year
Outages by month (seasonality)
Worst outage events on record
| Date | Duration | Customers affected | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 5, 2022 | 25 hrs | 1,317 (77%) | Flood |
| May 12, 2022 | 52 hrs | 1,070 (62%) | Unnamed event |
| Jul 4, 2022 | 4 hrs | 742 (43%) | Flood |
| Aug 16, 2025 | 12 hrs | 730 (42%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
| Nov 15, 2023 | 5 hrs | 682 (40%) | Unnamed event |
Over the 12 years from 2014 to 2025, Sanborn County recorded 192 distinct power outage events, averaging 3.1 hours per event.
The single worst outage on record in Sanborn County started July 5, 2022 (Flood), lasting 25 hours and leaving up to 1,317 customers without power (77% of the county) at its peak.
July has historically been the worst month for outages in Sanborn County, with 30 events recorded during that month across the dataset.
Based on this history, Sanborn County earns a Reliability Grade of C, placing it in the 49th percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).
Sized for Sanborn 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 Sanborn County.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Hamlin County | C | 47th |
| Miner County | C | 53rd |
| Moody County | C | 54th |
| McCook County | C | 43rd |
| Haakon County | C | 57th |
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 Sanborn County?
Between 2014 and 2025, Sanborn County recorded 192 outage events, averaging 3.1 hours each.
What is Sanborn County's reliability grade?
Sanborn County has a Reliability Grade of C, in the 49th national percentile.
What was the worst power outage in Sanborn County?
The worst outage on record started July 5, 2022 (Flood), lasting 25 hours and affecting up to 1,317 customers.