Boise, Idaho Power Outage Today

How reliable is Idaho Power service in Boise?

Idaho Power is an investor-owned utility with 621,746 customers. In 2024 its customers averaged 1.37 interruptions and 206 minutes (about 3.4 hours) without power, so the average outage lasted about 2.5 hours.

Little of that came from major storms (about 21%). Without major event days the average is still 164 minutes, so the figure mostly reflects everyday faults: failed equipment, tree limbs, animals and vehicles hitting poles.

The typical outage was repaired in about 2.5 hours.

For comparison, Idaho as a whole averaged 233 minutes and the United States 614 minutes. That is close to the state average.

Among the 8 utilities in Idaho with at least 5,000 customers that report to the federal government, Idaho Power ranks 5th for the fewest outage minutes (1 is best). Nationally, 48% of the 926 utilities of that size reported more outage minutes in 2024.

These are the figures the utility itself reported to the US Energy Information Administration (Form EIA-861, 2024) and describe the whole service territory, not one street. Your own address can be better or worse.

Storm season and outages in Boise

NOAA’s Storm Events Database lists 83 storm reports for Ada County from 2015 through 2026, most often thunderstorm wind (42), heavy rain (16), hail (7), and flood (7). The busiest full year was 2023 with 27 reports and the quietest was 2016 with 1, so the risk changes a lot from one year to the next.

Reports peak in May (23 since 2015), followed by August and June. October is outside those three months, so an outage now is less likely to be weather-related.

NOAA’s own narratives name power outages in 4 storm episodes in Ada County since 2015, most often in January. That count is a floor, since the database records outages only when a spotter or agency mentions them.

What the most common storm types in Boise do to the grid:

• Thunderstorm wind. Straight-line wind pushes trees and limbs into distribution lines. These outages are usually local, a street or a neighborhood at a time, and crews clear them circuit by circuit.
• Heavy rain. Saturated ground topples shallow-rooted trees onto lines, and standing water slows crews trying to reach the damage.
• Flood. Floodwater reaches ground-level transformers, meters and low-lying substations. Utilities may shut power off ahead of the water on purpose, and wading near flooded equipment can electrocute.

Storm reports that name Boise

Within Ada County, 55 NOAA storm reports since 2015 name Boise as their location or in their description: thunderstorm wind (32), heavy rain (13), flood (4), and flash flood (3). That is about 66% of the county’s reports, so Boise accounts for much of the county’s storm history. Reports naming Boise are most common in May. The busiest full year was 2023 with 22. These reports record 2 injuries in total.

In NOAA’s own words, storms that left Boise without power:

• September 2, 2024 (thunderstorm wind): “Idaho Power reported that this caused 2000 customers to be without power in the Boise North End.” Source: NOAA Storm Events Database
• May 28, 2024 (thunderstorm wind): “A strong outflow boundary from a thunderstorm damaged several power lines around the Boise metropolitan area and Garden Valley.” Source: NOAA Storm Events Database
• August 30, 2017 (thunderstorm wind): “Multiple damage reports were received in Southeast Boise with large trees and branches down including power outages.” Source: NOAA Storm Events Database

Who a power outage hits hardest in Boise

63.1% of occupied homes in Boise are heated with piped natural gas, and 33.4% with electricity (US 41.3% electric). A gas furnace still needs electricity for its blower and ignition, so a long winter outage leaves these homes cold too, though a gas supply stays on when the grid fails. Never heat a home with an oven, grill or camp stove indoors.

Residents aged 65 or older are 16.2% of the population in Boise, close to the US share of 17.2% and 13.2% report a disability (US 13.3%). These are the households most likely to depend on powered medical equipment such as oxygen concentrators, CPAP machines and refrigerated medicine. If someone in your home does, ask Idaho Power whether it keeps a priority or medical-needs list, and register before the next storm rather than during it.

About the housing: 24.6% of the housing in Boise was built before 1970 (US 35.5%).

Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 (housing, heating fuel, age and disability tables).

Backup power and electricity use in Boise

The average Idaho Power home used about 916 kWh a month in 2024 (US average 892 kWh), an average draw of 1.3 kW around the clock, and paid about 11.8 cents per kWh (11.5 in the state, 15.8 nationally), roughly $108 a month.

Keeping only the essentials on (a refrigerator, router, a few lights and phone chargers, about 400 watts) through an outage that lasts the average about 2.5 hours takes about 1.0 kWh. A portable power station or a power bank covers that; a generator is more than most households here need for a typical outage.

A generator must never run indoors, in a garage or near a window; generator and food-safety rules are in the power outage guide linked below.

If the power is out in Boise

About 228,959 people live in Boise, the largest of the 4 Idaho cities on this site. Report the outage to the utility so a ticket exists for your address, then check Idaho Power’s outage map for an estimate. If neighbors have power and you do not, report it again: the fault may be on the line to your house alone, which is a separate repair.

Boise power outage map

Idaho Power’s outage map has the official restoration estimate for your address; the count above comes from residents. Food and generator safety: power outage guide.

Boise power outage questions