Lancaster 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 12, 2018 | 86 hrs | 6,657 (55%) | Heavy Rain |
| Aug 4, 2020 | 73 hrs | 4,006 (33%) | Tropical Storm Isaias |
| Feb 13, 2021 | 53 hrs | 3,021 (25%) | Winter Weather |
| Mar 2, 2018 | 85 hrs | 2,958 (24%) | High Wind |
| Aug 3, 2024 | 14 hrs | 2,908 (24%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
Was There an Outage on a Specific Date?
Pick a date to see whether a power outage was recorded for Lancaster County, Virginia that day.
Over the 11 years from 2015 to 2025, Lancaster County recorded 695 distinct power outage events, averaging 3.6 hours per event.
The single worst outage on record in Lancaster County started October 12, 2018 (Heavy Rain), lasting 86 hours and leaving up to 6,657 customers without power (55% of the county) at its peak.
July has historically been the worst month for outages in Lancaster County, with 115 events recorded during that month across the dataset.
Based on this history, Lancaster County earns a Reliability Grade of D, placing it in the 27th percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).
Similar counties in Virginia
Counties with the closest reliability grade and national percentile to Lancaster County.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Rockbridge County | D | 27th |
| Stafford County | D | 27th |
| Montgomery County | D | 27th |
| Wise County | D | 28th |
| Southampton County | D | 26th |
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 Lancaster County?
Between 2015 and 2025, Lancaster County recorded 695 outage events, averaging 3.6 hours each.
What is Lancaster County's reliability grade?
Lancaster County has a Reliability Grade of D, in the 27th national percentile.
What was the worst power outage in Lancaster County?
The worst outage on record started October 12, 2018 (Heavy Rain), lasting 86 hours and affecting up to 6,657 customers.