Whatcom County Power Outage History
2015–2025 · Washington
Worse than average — more frequent or longer outages than most counties. How grades are calculated
Outages by year
Outages by month (seasonality)
Worst outage events on record
| Date | Duration | Customers affected | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 2015 | 114 hrs | 54,372 (60%) | Unnamed event |
| Oct 22, 2015 | 2 hrs | 47,391 (52%) | Unnamed event |
| Oct 22, 2015 | 0 hrs | 47,366 (52%) | Unnamed event |
| Oct 21, 2015 | 0 hrs | 47,354 (52%) | Unnamed event |
| Mar 10, 2016 | 38 hrs | 22,878 (25%) | Unnamed event |
Over the 11 years from 2015 to 2025, Whatcom County recorded 1,117 distinct power outage events, averaging 3.9 hours per event.
The single worst outage on record in Whatcom County started August 29, 2015, lasting 114 hours and leaving up to 54,372 customers without power (60% of the county) at its peak.
December has historically been the worst month for outages in Whatcom County, with 159 events recorded during that month across the dataset.
Based on this history, Whatcom County earns a Reliability Grade of D, placing it in the 24th percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).
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Similar counties in Washington
Counties with the closest reliability grade and national percentile to Whatcom County.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | D | 23rd |
| Skagit County | D | 21st |
| San Juan County | F | 20th |
| King County | D | 28th |
| Stevens County | F | 18th |
FAQ
How often does power go out in Whatcom County?
Between 2015 and 2025, Whatcom County recorded 1,117 outage events, averaging 3.9 hours each.
What is Whatcom County's reliability grade?
Whatcom County has a Reliability Grade of D, in the 24th national percentile.
What was the worst power outage in Whatcom County?
The worst outage on record started August 29, 2015, lasting 114 hours and affecting up to 54,372 customers.