Where Does Your State Rank In Grid Reliability?

How reliable is power where you live? These days that’s a hot topic as some rarely see an outage while others seem to be always in the news for a blackout or storm-caused outage. The answer might shock you as demand for power is growing with the population and the dependence on devices. Don't forget the push to buy electric cars—while the infrastructure rarely sees improvements.

The Department of Energy recently compiled a report to rank the reliability of each state's power grid. The report highlights the number of minutes power was out for the average customer in a year, according to US News & World Report.

Ranking well is great, but everyone faces significant challenges today and, in the years, to come. Where does your state rank?

This metrics below reflects the time of power outages the average customer experiences, based on data from the Department Of Energy. Average total lengths – excluding major events – in a state can range from under an hour to multiple hours over the course of a year.

The power grid reliability metric is one of many that factor into the rankings. There are numerous factors that go into this ranking system, thus looking at these numbers and seeing the overall doesn’t tell the entire story. See how US News & World Report complied this list by looking at the data behind the analysis.

To keep it simple, let’s see the results….

Illinois
#1 in Power Grid Reliability
#38 in Best States Overall
#25 in Infrastructure
#17 in Energy
 
Nebraska
#2 in Power Grid Reliability
#3 in Best States Overall
#4 in Infrastructure
#5 in Energy
 
Rhode Island
#3 in Power Grid Reliability
#26 in Best States Overall
#45 in Infrastructure
#41 in Energy
 
Connecticut
 #4 in Power Grid Reliability
#20 in Best States Overall
#28 in Infrastructure
#46 in Energy
 
Delaware
#5 in Power Grid Reliability
#21 in Best States Overall
#26 in Infrastructure
#27 in Energy
 
Florida
#6 in Power Grid Reliability
#9 in Best States Overall
#20 in Infrastructure
#22 in Energy
 
Arizona
#7 in Power Grid Reliability
#32 in Best States Overall
#18 in Infrastructure
#15 in Energy
 
Iowa
#8 in Power Grid Reliability
#6 in Best States Overall
#10 in Infrastructure
#2 in Energy
 
Nevada
#9 in Power Grid Reliability
#33 in Best States Overall
#6 in Infrastructure
#12 in Energy
 
New York
#10 in Power Grid Reliability
#23 in Best States Overall
#29 in Infrastructure
#29 in Energy
 
New Jersey
#11 in Power Grid Reliability
#14 in Best States Overall
#16 in Infrastructure
#35 in Energy
 
Minnesota
#12 in Power Grid Reliability
#4 in Best States Overall
#9 in Infrastructure
#14 in Energy
 
Massachusetts
#13 in Power Grid Reliability
#10 in Best States Overall
#39 in Infrastructure
#44 in Energy
 
Maryland
#14 in Power Grid Reliability
#22 in Best States Overall
#33 in Infrastructure
#30 in Energy
 
Colorado
#15 in Power Grid Reliability
#16 in Best States Overall
#12 in Infrastructure
#16 in Energy
 
Missouri
#16 in Power Grid Reliability
#35 in Best States Overall
#34 in Infrastructure
#21 in Energy
 
North Dakota
#17 in Power Grid Reliability
#15 in Best States Overall
#1 in Infrastructure
#6 in Energy
 
Wisconsin
#18 in Power Grid Reliability
#17 in Best States Overall
#35 in Infrastructure
#24 in Energy
 
Utah
#19 in Power Grid Reliability
#1 in Best States Overall
#3 in Infrastructure
#18 in Energy
 
Hawaii
#20 in Power Grid Reliability
#34 in Best States Overall
#47 in Infrastructure
#48 in Energy
 
New Hampshire
#21 in Power Grid Reliability
#2 in Best States Overall
#22 in Infrastructure
#40 in Energy
 
Kansas
#22 in Power Grid Reliability
#25 in Best States Overall
#5 in Infrastructure
#8 in Energy
 
Wyoming
#23 in Power Grid Reliability
#12 in Best States Overall
#13 in Infrastructure
#9 in Energy
 
South Carolina
#24 in Power Grid Reliability
#41 in Best States Overall
#37 in Infrastructure
#20 in Energy
 
Oregon
#25 in Power Grid Reliability
#31 in Best States Overall
#2 in Infrastructure
#3 in Energy
 
South Dakota
#26 in Power Grid Reliability
#11 in Best States Overall
#8 in Infrastructure
#1 in Energy
 
Pennsylvania
#27 in Power Grid Reliability
#40 in Best States Overall
#43 in Infrastructure
#32 in Energy
 
Texas
#28 in Power Grid Reliability
#29 in Best States Overall
#19 in Infrastructure
#23 in Energy


 New Mexico
#29 in Power Grid Reliability
#49 in Best States Overall
#44 in Infrastructure
#13 in Energy
 
Georgia
#30 in Power Grid Reliability
#18 in Best States Overall
#14 in Infrastructure
#25 in Energy
 
Indiana
#31 in Power Grid Reliability
#30 in Best States Overall
#23 in Infrastructure
#28 in Energy
 
Alabama
#32 in Power Grid Reliability
#44 in Best States Overall
#36 in Infrastructure
#19 in Energy
 
Ohio
#33 in Power Grid Reliability
#36 in Best States Overall
#30 in Infrastructure
#34 in Energy
 
Oklahoma
#34 in Power Grid Reliability
#43 in Best States Overall
#17 in Infrastructure
#11 in Energy
 
Montana
#35 in Power Grid Reliability
#24 in Best States Overall
#27 in Infrastructure
#7 in Energy
 
North Carolina
#36 in Power Grid Reliability
#19 in Best States Overall
#31 in Infrastructure
#26 in Energy
 
California
#37 in Power Grid Reliability
#37 in Best States Overall
#32 in Infrastructure
#47 in Energy
 
Kentucky
#38 in Power Grid Reliability
#39 in Best States Overall
#24 in Infrastructure
#31 in Energy
 
Washington
#39 in Power Grid Reliability
#8 in Best States Overall
#7 in Infrastructure
#4 in Energy
 
Idaho
#40 in Power Grid Reliability
#5 in Best States Overall
#15 in Infrastructure
#10 in Energy
 
Michigan
#41 in Power Grid Reliability
#42 in Best States Overall
#41 in Infrastructure
#38 in Energy
 
Virginia
#42 in Power Grid Reliability
#13 in Best States Overall
#38 in Infrastructure
#37 in Energy
 
Tennessee
#43 in Power Grid Reliability
#27 in Best States Overall
#21 in Infrastructure
#36 in Energy
 
Maine
#44 in Power Grid Reliability
#28 in Best States Overall
#40 in Infrastructure
#33 in Energy
 
Louisiana
#45 in Power Grid Reliability
#50 in Best States Overall
#49 in Infrastructure
#43 in Energy
 
Mississippi
#46 in Power Grid Reliability
#48 in Best States Overall
#48 in Infrastructure
#45 in Energy
 
Vermont
#47 in Power Grid Reliability
#7 in Best States Overall
#11 in Infrastructure
#39 in Energy
 
Arkansas
#48 in Power Grid Reliability
#47 in Best States Overall
#42 in Infrastructure
#42 in Energy
 
Alaska
#49 in Power Grid Reliability
#45 in Best States Overall
#46 in Infrastructure
#50 in Energy
 
West Virginia
#50 in Power Grid Reliability
#46 in Best States Overall
#50 in Infrastructure
#49 in Energy
 
No matter what state you call home, keep in mind, infrastructure and power grid challenges are worsening. Ranks are simply that! This list can best be summed up when comparing it to a classroom. The top grade/rank is probably a B+ and the rest of the class is getting Cs, Ds, and Fs.
 
The stats will not change much, but the challenges our energy systems face are escalating all the time. Make your own luck and back up your business with standby power. See our full inventory or call (877) 866-6895 and ask questions. We are glad to match your needs with the right unit for your situation. 
 
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Story Summary
 
Which state ranked #1 in power grid reliability in 2024?
Illinois ranked #1 in power grid reliability according to the report.
 
What metrics were used to determine the rankings?
The rankings were based on the average number of minutes power was out for customers in each state over the course of a year, excluding major events. See the total criteria here. 

What were some of the top ranked states?
The top 5 states for power grid reliability were:
Illinois
Nebraska
Rhode Island
Connecticut
Delaware
 
Which states ranked at the bottom?
The bottom 5 states for power grid reliability were:
Mississippi
Vermont
Arkansas
Alaska
West Virginia

Does a high reliability ranking mean the state's overall infrastructure is good?
Not necessarily. For example, Illinois ranked #1 in grid reliability but #38 overall in infrastructure. The reliability metric is just one factor in the broader infrastructure rankings.

What challenges are power grids facing?
The report notes that power grids face increasing challenges from growing electricity demand, aging infrastructure, extreme weather events, and the transition to renewable energy sources.

How can consumers protect themselves from outages?
The article suggests consumers consider backup power options like standby generators for their homes and businesses to prepare for potential outages.