Knox County Power Outage History
2015–2025 · Tennessee
Average — typical outage frequency and duration nationally. How grades are calculated
Outages by year
Outages by month (seasonality)
Worst outage events on record
| Date | Duration | Customers affected | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 7, 2023 | 16 hrs | 68,001 (27%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
| May 28, 2017 | 44 hrs | 44,151 (18%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
| Jun 19, 2020 | 2 hrs | 40,534 (16%) | Hail |
| May 27, 2020 | 1 hrs | 34,684 (14%) | Unnamed event |
| Apr 12, 2018 | 2 hrs | 31,811 (13%) | Unnamed event |
Over the 11 years from 2015 to 2025, Knox County recorded 3,367 distinct power outage events, averaging 1.8 hours per event.
The single worst outage on record in Knox County started August 7, 2023 (Thunderstorm Wind), lasting 16 hours and leaving up to 68,001 customers without power (27% of the county) at its peak.
July has historically been the worst month for outages in Knox County, with 403 events recorded during that month across the dataset.
Based on this history, Knox County earns a Reliability Grade of C, placing it in the 52nd percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).
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Similar counties in Tennessee
Counties with the closest reliability grade and national percentile to Knox County.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland County | C | 52nd |
| Blount County | C | 52nd |
| Trousdale County | C | 52nd |
| Robertson County | C | 53rd |
| Sullivan County | C | 55th |
FAQ
How often does power go out in Knox County?
Between 2015 and 2025, Knox County recorded 3,367 outage events, averaging 1.8 hours each.
What is Knox County's reliability grade?
Knox County has a Reliability Grade of C, in the 52nd national percentile.
What was the worst power outage in Knox County?
The worst outage on record started August 7, 2023 (Thunderstorm Wind), lasting 16 hours and affecting up to 68,001 customers.