PowerOutageHistory
Reliability Grade
F
Least reliable
2014-2025
Virginia

Russell CountyPower Outage History

20142025 · Virginia
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What this grade means

Bottom 20% least reliable nationally — frequent and/or long outages. This county ranks in the least reliable fifth of all US counties in our dataset: some combination of frequent outages, long restoration times, or customers affected puts it near the bottom nationally. Backup power is worth prioritizing here rather than treating it as optional.

Takeaway
High outage risk
Reliability Rank
Fuller bar = more reliable
Nationwide4th pct
In Virginia#121 of 126
See full Virginia rankings →
Total events
1,037
Recorded 2014–2025
Avg duration
4.6 hrs
Per outage event
Longest outage
230 hrs
Single worst event on record
Customers served
15,440
Utility customers in county

Outages by year

Outages by month (seasonality)

Worst outage events on record

DateDurationCustomers affectedCause
Sep 27, 2024230 hrs15,236 (99%)Tropical Storm Helene
Nov 22, 2022<1 hr7,472 (48%)Unnamed event
Jan 27, 20212 hrs7,012 (45%)Unnamed event
May 16, 202531 hrs5,804 (38%)Thunderstorm Wind
Apr 13, 202013 hrs5,749 (37%)Flash Flood

Was There an Outage on a Specific Date?

Pick a date to see whether a power outage was recorded for Russell County, Virginia that day.

Over the 12 years from 2014 to 2025, Russell County recorded 1,037 distinct power outage events, averaging 4.6 hours per event.

The single worst outage on record in Russell County started September 27, 2024 (Tropical Storm Helene), lasting 230 hours and leaving up to 15,236 customers without power (99% of the county) at its peak.

July has historically been the worst month for outages in Russell County, with 149 events recorded during that month across the dataset.

Based on this history, Russell County earns a Reliability Grade of F, placing it in the 4th percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).

Similar counties in Virginia

Counties with the closest reliability grade and national percentile to Russell County.

CountyGradeNational percentile
Cumberland CountyF4th
Dickenson CountyF5th
Scott CountyF3rd
Carroll CountyF3rd
Franklin CountyF5th

Most reliable counties nationally

The top 3 counties nationally by reliability grade and percentile.

CountyStateGradeNational percentile
Clay CountySouth DakotaA100th
Clearwater CountyMinnesotaA99th
Limestone CountyAlabamaA99th

Least reliable counties nationally

The bottom 3 counties nationally by reliability grade and percentile.

FAQ

How often does power go out in Russell County?

Between 2014 and 2025, Russell County recorded 1,037 outage events, averaging 4.6 hours each.

What is Russell County's reliability grade?

Russell County has a Reliability Grade of F, in the 4th national percentile.

What was the worst power outage in Russell County?

The worst outage on record started September 27, 2024 (Tropical Storm Helene), lasting 230 hours and affecting up to 15,236 customers.

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Data: ORNL EAGLE-I Recorded Electricity Outages (2014–2025), CC BY 4.0. Storm names: NOAA Storm Events Database. Last data refresh: 2025. See methodology.