PowerOutageHistory
F

Smyth County Power Outage History

20142025 · Virginia

Bottom 20% least reliable nationally — frequent and/or long outages. How grades are calculated

Total events
937
Avg duration
4.5 hrs
Longest outage
210 hrs
National percentile
7th

Outages by year

Outages by month (seasonality)

Worst outage events on record

DateDurationCustomers affectedCause
Sep 27, 2024210 hrs12,160 (65%)Hurricane Helene
May 24, 20161 hrs7,761 (41%)Unnamed event
May 17, 202542 hrs5,821 (31%)Thunderstorm Wind
Jun 17, 202226 hrs5,635 (30%)Thunderstorm Wind
May 6, 202228 hrs5,241 (28%)Thunderstorm Wind

Over the 12 years from 2014 to 2025, Smyth County recorded 937 distinct power outage events, averaging 4.5 hours per event.

The single worst outage on record in Smyth County started September 27, 2024 (Hurricane Helene), lasting 210 hours and leaving up to 12,160 customers without power (65% of the county) at its peak.

June has historically been the worst month for outages in Smyth County, with 109 events recorded during that month across the dataset.

Based on this history, Smyth County earns a Reliability Grade of F, placing it in the 7th percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).

Sized for Smyth County's outage profile

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Outage-prep kit

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Similar counties in Virginia

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

CountyGradeNational percentile
Nottoway CountyF7th
Buchanan CountyF6th
Charlotte CountyF6th
Giles CountyF6th
Prince Edward CountyF8th

FAQ

How often does power go out in Smyth County?

Between 2014 and 2025, Smyth County recorded 937 outage events, averaging 4.5 hours each.

What is Smyth County's reliability grade?

Smyth County has a Reliability Grade of F, in the 7th national percentile.

What was the worst power outage in Smyth County?

The worst outage on record started September 27, 2024 (Hurricane Helene), lasting 210 hours and affecting up to 12,160 customers.

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.