A sudden power outage on Saturday left more than 125,000 Pacific Gas and Electric (PG & E) customers in San Francisco without electricity, triggering widespread transit disruptions and city-wide service shutdowns.
Outage Overview
The blackout began shortly after 1 p.m. Saturday, affecting a large swath of the city’s northern neighborhoods. At its peak, roughly one-third of PG & E’s San Francisco customers were without power, a figure that matched the total number of affected homes and businesses-about 130,000.
PG & E confirmed that the outage was linked to a fire that damaged a substation located at 8th and Mission streets. The company stated that the fire was the cause of “some of the blackouts” and that the incident remains under investigation.
PG & E Response
By 7 a.m. PST Sunday, PG & E had restored electricity to approximately 110,000 customers and was actively working to bring power back to the remaining 21,000 in several neighborhoods and small areas of downtown San Francisco. The utility could not provide a precise timeframe for full restoration.
In a statement, PG & E emphasized the complexity of the repair work:
> “The damage from the fire in our substation was significant and extensive, and the repairs and safe restoration will be complex,” the utility said, referring to the substation at 8th and Mission streets.
The company also highlighted safety concerns, adding:
> “This is a very complex work plan and will require the highest amount of safety focus to ensure safe work actions.”
PG & E mobilized additional engineers and electricians to aid in the restoration effort, and no injuries have been reported.
At about 4 p.m. Saturday, the company posted on X that it had stabilized the grid and that no further outages were expected.
Impact on City Services
The blackout coincided with one of San Francisco’s busiest shopping days of the year. Social media posts and local media outlets reported widespread closures of restaurants and shops. Street lights and Christmas decorations were darkened across the city.
The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management took to X to inform residents of the situation:
> “Significant transit disruptions” were occurring citywide, and the department urged residents to avoid nonessential travel and to treat down traffic signals as four-way stops.
The department’s message was accompanied by a photo of a traffic light that had gone dark.
Waymo Suspension
Waymo, the operator of driverless ride-hailing vehicles, suspended its services in San Francisco for the duration of the outage. At least one video posted on social media appeared to show a Waymo vehicle stopped in the middle of an intersection, underscoring the disruption to autonomous vehicle operations.
Recovery Efforts
PG & E’s restoration schedule was phased. The company first addressed the largest affected areas, then moved to the remaining neighborhoods and downtown sectors. By Sunday morning, the bulk of the 130,000 homes and businesses had power restored.
The utility’s statement that the outage remains under investigation indicates that a full cause report is pending. Meanwhile, the department’s call for cautious travel and the suspension of Waymo services reflect the city’s broader strategy to maintain safety during the crisis.
Key Takeaways
- A fire at the 8th and Mission substation caused a massive power outage, leaving more than 125,000 PG & E customers without electricity.
- PG & E restored power to about 110,000 customers by 7 a.m. PST Sunday, with the remaining 21,000 in progress.
- The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management warned of significant transit disruptions and urged residents to avoid nonessential travel.
- Waymo suspended its autonomous vehicle services, and social media videos showed stopped vehicles at intersections.
- No injuries were reported, and PG & E emphasized safety in its complex repair work.
Closing
The outage, which began after 1 p.m. Saturday, highlighted the vulnerability of critical infrastructure during a busy holiday shopping period. While power has largely been restored, the incident remains under investigation, and the city continues to monitor transit and safety conditions as residents return to normalcy.
