Massive San Francisco power outage leaves 130,000 without power
Fire at a PG&E substation linked to outages that affected roughly one-third of the city’s customers; transit disruptions persist as officials seek to restore service.
A widespread power outage in San Francisco left about 130,000 homes and businesses without electricity on Saturday, spanning roughly a third of Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s customers in the city. The outage began in the northern portion of the city, starting in the Richmond and Presidio neighborhoods and areas around Golden Gate Park in the early afternoon, and grew to cover a large swath of the city as the day progressed. PG&E did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the cause of the blackouts.
The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management said there were significant transit disruptions citywide and urged residents to avoid nonessential travel and treat down traffic signals as four-way stops. City transportation agencies said they were bypassing some Muni bus routes and BART stations because of the outages. A fire that broke out inside a PG&E substation at 8th and Mission streets was cited by fire officials as contributing to the outages. By about 4 p.m., PG&E said it had stabilized the power grid and was not expecting additional customer outages, but could not confirm when full restoration would occur.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie urged residents to stay off the roads while the city awaited restoration, saying on social media that authorities were still not sure when power would be restored to more than 130,000 customers. The outage was also felt in everyday life, with restaurants and shops closing and street lights and holiday decorations going dark across the city. Some streets were left with no operating traffic signals, complicating commutes and pedestrian movement. A Waymo driverless car was seen idling at an intersection with no functioning traffic lights, underscoring the impact on automated-vehicle operations.
Officials described the event as a major disruption to critical city services and urged residents to conserve electricity where possible and to monitor official channels for updates. A city statement noted that rescue and emergency response activities remained ongoing as crews worked to assess damage and restore power. The outage has highlighted the vulnerability of urban infrastructure to localized faults in electric grids, especially in a densely populated metropolis with extensive transit networks.
As the day progressed, officials said the outage affected a broad portion of the northern city and raised questions about resilience and rapid recovery in the face of grid-related incidents. PG&E publicly acknowledged the incident via its official channels, indicating that the company was coordinating with first responders and city officials on the outage and would share updates as they became available. The company did not provide a timeline for full restoration, a point echoed by city leaders who emphasized safety and careful re-energization of circuits to prevent further equipment damage.
The episode also prompted discussions about the broader reliability of the Bay Area’s power infrastructure. Some residents and business owners reported extended closures and lost business, while others prepared for potential outages to extend into the evening as crews continued repairs. The SF Department of Emergency Management reminded the public to treat non-operational traffic signals as four-way stops, maintain refrigerator and freezer doors closed to keep food cold, and minimize use of major appliances to prevent electrical surges when power is restored. Officials warned that gas should not be used in enclosed spaces and urged residents to limit nonessential travel to reduce strain on the grid.
San Francisco’s outage comes amid ongoing scrutiny of urban resilience in the face of climate-related stresses and aging infrastructure. City leaders have previously called for investments in grid modernization and more robust emergency protocols to shorten recovery times after such events. In the immediate aftermath, the community focused on safety, shelter-in-place guidance, and practical steps to navigate a day of disrupted services while utility crews worked to restore power.
This is a developing story, and officials advised residents to monitor official channels for updates as restoration efforts continue and as more information becomes available about the cause and scope of the outage.