Polk County Power Outage History
2014–2025 · Wisconsin
Better than average — fewer or shorter 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 12, 2017 | 17 hrs | 10,357 (27%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
| Jul 19, 2019 | 74 hrs | 9,152 (24%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
| Jun 30, 2019 | 1 hrs | 6,481 (17%) | Unnamed event |
| Jul 28, 2019 | 7 hrs | 6,403 (17%) | Tornado |
| Aug 5, 2019 | 1 hrs | 6,371 (17%) | Unnamed event |
Over the 12 years from 2014 to 2025, Polk County recorded 338 distinct power outage events, averaging 2.5 hours per event.
The single worst outage on record in Polk County started July 12, 2017 (Thunderstorm Wind), lasting 17 hours and leaving up to 10,357 customers without power (27% of the county) at its peak.
July has historically been the worst month for outages in Polk County, with 67 events recorded during that month across the dataset.
Based on this history, Polk County earns a Reliability Grade of B, placing it in the 71st percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).
Sized for Polk County's outage profile
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Similar counties in Wisconsin
Counties with the closest reliability grade and national percentile to Polk County.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa County | B | 71st |
| Kenosha County | B | 70th |
| Sheboygan County | B | 72nd |
| Green Lake County | B | 73rd |
| Rusk County | B | 68th |
FAQ
How often does power go out in Polk County?
Between 2014 and 2025, Polk County recorded 338 outage events, averaging 2.5 hours each.
What is Polk County's reliability grade?
Polk County has a Reliability Grade of B, in the 71st national percentile.
What was the worst power outage in Polk County?
The worst outage on record started July 12, 2017 (Thunderstorm Wind), lasting 17 hours and affecting up to 10,357 customers.