As Heat Wave Continues, These US Counties Are Most Likely to Lose Power
https://climate-crisis-247-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/07214402/yetqklnhsui-150x150.jpgThis week, an historic heat wave is gripping the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Temperatures surged past 100°F in dozens of major metro areas, including New York and Boston, with many cities experiencing triple-digit temperatures for the first time in recorded history.
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As temperatures rise, demand for air conditioning and electricity increases and puts intense strain on power grids. Transformers and other electrical infrastructure can overheat and fail, causing power outages lasting from 15 minutes to several days. In many cases, utilities are forced to implement rolling blackouts to prevent system-wide failure. The problem is far worse in some cities than others, with the summer months accounting for more than 90% of year-round power outages in some parts of the Northeast and Midwest. A closer look at the data reveals the counties where summer heat causes the most power outages.
To determine the counties where summer heat waves are straining power grids, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on power outages from the Environment for the Analysis of Geo-Located Energy Information (EAGLE-I) and the Electric Emergency Incident Disturbance Report. Counties were ranked based on the total time spent in power outages from June to August as a percentage of all time spent in power outages year-round from 2019 to 2023. Only counties with at least 300 hours of summertime power outages from 2019 to 2023 were considered.
25. Washtenaw, MI
- Summer power outages, 2019-2023: 60.4% of annual total
- Power outage time in summer, 2019-2023: 934 hours (119 outages)
- Power outage time year-round, 2019-2023: 1,547 hours (240 outages)
- County seat: Ann Arbor
24. Osceola, MI
- Summer power outages, 2019-2023: 61.8% of annual total
- Power outage time in summer, 2019-2023: 423 hours (31 outages)
- Power outage time year-round, 2019-2023: 684 hours (55 outages)
- County seat: Reed City
23. Columbia, NY
- Summer power outages, 2019-2023: 61.9% of annual total
- Power outage time in summer, 2019-2023: 336 hours (30 outages)
- Power outage time year-round, 2019-2023: 542 hours (67 outages)
- County seat: Hudson
22. Lake, MI
- Summer power outages, 2019-2023: 62.2% of annual total
- Power outage time in summer, 2019-2023: 336 hours (46 outages)
- Power outage time year-round, 2019-2023: 541 hours (71 outages)
- County seat: Baldwin
21. St. Martin, LA
- Summer power outages, 2019-2023: 63.2% of annual total
- Power outage time in summer, 2019-2023: 462 hours (47 outages)
- Power outage time year-round, 2019-2023: 731 hours (122 outages)
- County seat: St. Martinville
20. Ulster, NY
- Summer power outages, 2019-2023: 66.5% of annual total
- Power outage time in summer, 2019-2023: 572 hours (73 outages)
- Power outage time year-round, 2019-2023: 860 hours (140 outages)
- County seat: Kingston
19. Sullivan, NY
- Summer power outages, 2019-2023: 67.4% of annual total
- Power outage time in summer, 2019-2023: 340 hours (29 outages)
- Power outage time year-round, 2019-2023: 504 hours (81 outages)
- County seat: Monticello
18. West Feliciana, LA
- Summer power outages, 2019-2023: 70.3% of annual total
- Power outage time in summer, 2019-2023: 495 hours (61 outages)
- Power outage time year-round, 2019-2023: 704 hours (74 outages)
- County seat: St. Francisville
17. Orange, NY
- Summer power outages, 2019-2023: 71.1% of annual total
- Power outage time in summer, 2019-2023: 399 hours (42 outages)
- Power outage time year-round, 2019-2023: 561 hours (100 outages)
- County seat: Goshen
16. St. Mary, LA
- Summer power outages, 2019-2023: 71.4% of annual total
- Power outage time in summer, 2019-2023: 370 hours (26 outages)
- Power outage time year-round, 2019-2023: 518 hours (45 outages)
- County seat: Franklin
15. Putnam, NY
- Summer power outages, 2019-2023: 72.1% of annual total
- Power outage time in summer, 2019-2023: 417 hours (28 outages)
- Power outage time year-round, 2019-2023: 578 hours (56 outages)
- County seat: Carmel
14. Kings, NY
- Summer power outages, 2019-2023: 78.0% of annual total
- Power outage time in summer, 2019-2023: 323 hours (23 outages)
- Power outage time year-round, 2019-2023: 414 hours (60 outages)
- County seat: Brooklyn
13. Dutchess, NY
- Summer power outages, 2019-2023: 79.0% of annual total
- Power outage time in summer, 2019-2023: 554 hours (76 outages)
- Power outage time year-round, 2019-2023: 701 hours (122 outages)
- County seat: Poughkeepsie
12. Claiborne, LA
- Summer power outages, 2019-2023: 82.0% of annual total
- Power outage time in summer, 2019-2023: 570 hours (26 outages)
- Power outage time year-round, 2019-2023: 695 hours (81 outages)
- County seat: Homer
11. Monmouth, NJ
- Summer power outages, 2019-2023: 88.9% of annual total
- Power outage time in summer, 2019-2023: 320 hours (26 outages)
- Power outage time year-round, 2019-2023: 360 hours (48 outages)
- County seat: Freehold
10. Rockland, NY
- Summer power outages, 2019-2023: 93.4% of annual total
- Power outage time in summer, 2019-2023: 365 hours (38 outages)
- Power outage time year-round, 2019-2023: 391 hours (66 outages)
- County seat: New City
9. Burlington, NJ
- Summer power outages, 2019-2023: 96.1% of annual total
- Power outage time in summer, 2019-2023: 537 hours (13 outages)
- Power outage time year-round, 2019-2023: 559 hours (34 outages)
- County seat: Mount Holly
8. Sussex, NJ
- Summer power outages, 2019-2023: 96.5% of annual total
- Power outage time in summer, 2019-2023: 452 hours (23 outages)
- Power outage time year-round, 2019-2023: 469 hours (31 outages)
- County seat: Newton
7. Atlantic, NJ
- Summer power outages, 2019-2023: 96.9% of annual total
- Power outage time in summer, 2019-2023: 403 hours (13 outages)
- Power outage time year-round, 2019-2023: 416 hours (25 outages)
- County seat: Mays Landing
6. Camden, NJ
- Summer power outages, 2019-2023: 97.8% of annual total
- Power outage time in summer, 2019-2023: 467 hours (31 outages)
- Power outage time year-round, 2019-2023: 478 hours (46 outages)
- County seat: Camden
5. Hudson, NJ
- Summer power outages, 2019-2023: 98.0% of annual total
- Power outage time in summer, 2019-2023: 356 hours (11 outages)
- Power outage time year-round, 2019-2023: 363 hours (19 outages)
- County seat: Jersey City
4. Mercer, NJ
- Summer power outages, 2019-2023: 98.5% of annual total
- Power outage time in summer, 2019-2023: 487 hours (18 outages)
- Power outage time year-round, 2019-2023: 494 hours (27 outages)
- County seat: Trenton
3. Cape May, NJ
- Summer power outages, 2019-2023: 99.0% of annual total
- Power outage time in summer, 2019-2023: 335 hours (25 outages)
- Power outage time year-round, 2019-2023: 338 hours (28 outages)
- County seat: Cape May
2. Gloucester, NJ
- Summer power outages, 2019-2023: 99.7% of annual total
- Power outage time in summer, 2019-2023: 522 hours (21 outages)
- Power outage time year-round, 2019-2023: 523 hours (25 outages)
- County seat: Woodbury
1. Warren, NJ
- Summer power outages, 2019-2023: 99.9% of annual total
- Power outage time in summer, 2019-2023: 324 hours (15 outages)
- Power outage time year-round, 2019-2023: 324 hours (16 outages)
- County seat: Belvidere
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