This post first appeared on the EATON website.
In recent years, the world has witnessed several significant power outages that have disrupted the lives of millions. From hurricanes and nor’easters to infrastructure failures, these events have highlighted the vulnerabilities in our power grids and the urgent need for resilient infrastructure. This report delves into the top 10 global and US power outages, from the nationwide blackout in Ecuador to the devastating hurricanes that struck the southeastern United States, these events underscore the critical importance of robust and reliable power systems in our increasingly interconnected world. As meteorologists and other experts continue to warn that climate change will persist as an increasing factor in the frequency, duration and intensity of these severe weather events, we can expect that the toll on our already-vulnerable power grid will also remain.
While weather has always been a leading cause of outages, weather-related power outages have been on the rise. From 2000 to 2023, about 80% of major power outages in the U.S. were due to weather events. The number of such outages in the last decade (2014-2023) was double that of the first decade of the century, according to Climate Central.
In 2024, severe weather spared no corner of North America, with the most extreme incidents captured by Eaton. A power management company that specializes in providing backup power solutions to businesses, Eaton has followed and reported on power outages over the last decade and a half. We understand the devastation they can cause both personally and professionally, and our thoughts are with all who have been touched by such events.
1. Total darkness in Ecuador. Ecuador experienced a nationwide power outage, plunging the entire country into darkness and affecting 18 million residents. The blackout, which occurred on June 19, 2024, was caused by a failure in the transmission line that led to a cascading disconnection across the national grid. This unprecedented event disrupted daily life, halting the capital Quito’s subway system and causing traffic chaos as signals ceased to function. Authorities attributed the outage to a long-standing lack of investment in the electrical infrastructure, which left the system vulnerable to such failures. Efforts to restore power were swift, with 95% of the electricity supply reinstated within hours.
2. Island-wide blackout affects 10 million. Cuba recently experienced a severe island-wide power outage, leaving 10 million people in the dark. The blackout, which began on Oct. 18, 2024, was triggered by a failure at the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, the largest power plant in the country. This failure caused a cascading effect, leading to the collapse of the entire national grid. In Havana, the capital city, only a small portion of the population had power restored within the first 24 hours. The situation was exacerbated by Cuba’s aging infrastructure and ongoing fuel shortages, which made it difficult to maintain and repair the power grid. During the crisis, the government implemented emergency measures including closing schools and non-essential workplaces to conserve energy.
3. A Category 4 catastrophe. Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc across the southeastern United States, causing nearly 4 million power outages and significant damage. The storm made landfall as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, intensifying rapidly from a Category 1 to a Category 4 in less than 24 hours due to unusually warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico, bringing catastrophic winds and torrential rains. Hurricane Helene produced the highest storm surge on record in the Big Bend region of Florida, with water levels reaching up to 15 feet in some areas, causing catastrophic flooding particularly in western North Carolina, East Tennessee and southwestern Virginia. The inland community of Asheville, North Carolina, experienced severe flooding, trapping residents in their homes. The economic damage from Hurricane Helene is estimated to be as high as $200 billion, making it one of the costliest storms in U.S. history.
4. Back-to-back blackouts for Florida. Hurricane Milton caused widespread devastation across Florida, leading to significant power outages and extensive damage. The storm made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane near Siesta Key, Florida, bringing powerful winds and heavy rains. In the immediate aftermath, over 3 million customers were left without power. The hardest-hit areas included counties along Florida’s central Gulf Coast. The storm also triggered numerous tornadoes, adding to the destruction and complicating recovery efforts. The back-to-back storms of Helene and Milton left extensive damage and as communities began to rebuild, the focus was on enhancing infrastructure resilience to better withstand future storms.
5. Power outages Beryl through Texas. Hurricane Beryl struck Texas with devastating force, making landfall as a Category 1 hurricane near Matagorda on July 8, 2024. The storm’s powerful winds and heavy rains caused widespread damage, particularly in the Houston area, where nearly 3 million people were left without power at the height of the outages. The extensive power outages led to significant challenges for residents, with many facing prolonged periods without electricity. CenterPoint Energy, the primary utility provider in the region, faced criticism for its response time and communication issues. Despite efforts to restore power quickly, some areas remained without electricity for over a week.
6. Puerto Rico’s powerless plight. Hurricane Ernesto struck Puerto Rico on Aug. 14, 2024, causing extensive damage and power outages. The storm knocked out power for over 700,000 customers, leading to prolonged blackouts and significant recovery efforts. The impact was severe, with heavy rain, strong winds, flooding and landslides reported across the island. The storm and subsequent outages delayed the start of the new school year for students. The Puerto Rico National Guard was deployed for response and recovery efforts and took measures to protect the island’s native parrots, the Puerto Rico Amazon, by moving them indoors.
7. Sometimes it does rain in Southern California. Storms in Southern California lingering from Hurricane Kristy on Oct. 25-26, 2024, led to significant power outages, affecting thousands of residents. The heavy rain and strong winds during these dates caused widespread damage to power lines and infrastructure, resulting in prolonged blackouts. More than 850,000 customers were initially affected, with over 600,000 people still without power at the peak of the outages.
8. Maine’s nor’easter nightmare. A powerful nor’easter hit Maine on Oct. 30, 2024, causing significant power outages and affecting over 375,000 customers. The storm brought more than a foot of heavy, wet snow and strong winds, which led to widespread damage to power lines and infrastructure. Despite the storm, Maine experienced record-breaking warmth on Halloween, with temperatures reaching the mid to upper 70s. This unusual warmth was followed by much cooler weather over the weekend. As of Oct. 31, 2024, 175,000 customers were still without power. The hardest-hit areas included southern Maine and coastal regions. Central Maine Power and Versant Power had deployed hundreds of crews to restore power, but full restoration was expected to take several days.
9. Louisiana’s stormy struggle. Hurricane Francine made landfall in Louisiana on Sept. 11, 2024, as a Category 2 storm, causing major power outages and affecting 327,000 southeastern residents. The hurricane’s strong winds, with gusts up to 100 mph, and heavy rains led to widespread power disruptions. The storm caused significant damage to power lines and infrastructure, leading to prolonged outages to homes, businesses and schools. Key facilities like Port Fourchon and the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port were also closed.
10. Ohio’s storm surge. A powerful storm hit Ohio on Aug. 7, 2024, causing significant power outages and leaving over 300,000 homes without electricity. The storm’s impact was particularly severe in the greater Cleveland area, where 104 mph tornadoes, strong winds and heavy rains led to widespread damage to power lines and infrastructure. The storm caused flooding and downed trees, further complicating recovery efforts.
11. Cyclone chaos. A powerful bomb cyclone struck the northwestern U.S. on Nov. 20, 2024, causing widespread devastation. The storm’s hurricane-force winds and heavy rains led to significant power outages, affecting over 600,000 homes across multiple states. Washington was hit hardest, with around 460,000 homes losing power. Oregon, California and Nevada also experienced outages, with thousands of residents left in the dark. The storm downed trees and power lines, causing extensive damage and leaving many communities struggling to restore electricity.