UPDATE: Power has been restored to most of the 130,000 homes and businesses in San Francisco affected by a massive outage on Saturday, but over 16,000 customers remain without electricity as of Sunday afternoon. The outage resulted from a fire at a utility substation at 8th and Mission streets, disrupting daily life during a peak holiday weekend.
The blackout struck during one of the busiest shopping weekends before Christmas, forcing shops and restaurants to close and leaving many residents stranded. Notably, Waymo had to suspend its autonomous taxi service as vehicles stalled at intersections, creating severe gridlock across the city.
Why It Matters: The outage impacted approximately 130,000 customers of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), leading to significant disruptions in public transit, including BART and Muni services. With essential routes blocked, countless commuters faced delays and uncertainty.
As of now, PG&E crews have restored power to around 114,000 customers, including 4,000 on Sunday. The remaining outages are primarily in the Presidio, Richmond District, Golden Gate Park, and pockets of downtown San Francisco. The utility has mobilized additional engineers and electricians to expedite restoration efforts.
On Saturday, the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management reported significant citywide transit disruptions, urging residents to avoid nonessential travel and to treat downed traffic signals as four-way stops. BART stations at Powell Street and Civic Center were closed, and both Muni and Central Subway services were suspended before gradually resuming in the evening.
PG&E stabilized the grid by 4 p.m. on Saturday, successfully preventing further outages. Most customers had their power restored within six to eight hours of the initial blackout. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported, although the situation remains under investigation.
To assist affected residents, PG&E has opened a Community Resource Center at 251 18th Ave. in the Richmond District. The center offers power stations for charging devices, free Wi-Fi, bottled water, snacks, ADA-accessible restrooms, and customer support. It operates from 5-10 p.m. on Sunday and 8 a.m.-10 p.m. on Monday.
PG&E is coordinating with the 211 Providers Network to conduct wellness checks and is partnering with the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers to provide food vouchers and hotel placements for vulnerable customers.
What Officials Are Saying: San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie announced on X: “PG&E has informed us that they expect full power to be restored by 2 p.m. tomorrow. If your power is still out and you need help, come to the Richmond Rec Center for resources. Call 211 if you need a hotel reservation.”
PG&E confirmed on X: “#SanFrancisco Outage Update. We currently expect to restore all remaining customers by no later than 2 p.m. on Monday.”
Additionally, the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management stated: “The City has charging locations available for residents still without power. All library branches except Main Library, Richmond, and Anza remain open for device charging.”
Next Steps: PG&E aims to restore power to all remaining customers by Monday afternoon while also preparing for incoming storms that could impact other areas. The situation is evolving, and residents are advised to stay tuned for updates as authorities continue to restore services and support those affected.
This outage has underscored the vulnerability of urban infrastructure during critical times, impacting daily life and the holiday spirit in San Francisco.