A massive San Francisco power outage has paralyzed large swaths of the city this weekend, leaving approximately 130,000 Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) customers without electricity. The blackout, triggered by a fire at a critical substation in the South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood, has caused widespread disruptions to transit systems, local businesses, and traffic signals during the busy holiday shopping season.
As of Sunday morning, crews are working frantically to restore stability to the grid, though thousands remain affected.
Extent of the Blackout: 30% of City Affected
The san francisco power outage began Saturday afternoon and rapidly expanded, plunging roughly 30% of the city’s utility customers into darkness. Initial reports indicated approximately 40,000 customers were affected in the Richmond and Sunset districts. However, the situation deteriorated quickly as the grid destabilized, causing the number of outages to balloon to over 130,000 by late afternoon.
City officials and the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) immediately issued alerts, urging residents to limit non-essential travel. With traffic lights non-functional at major intersections, the city’s streets became gridlocked, forcing drivers to treat busy junctions as four-way stops.
Note: This is one of the most significant single-day outages in San Francisco since the widespread storms of early 2023.
Neighborhoods Hit by SF Power Outage
The sf power outage did not affect the city uniformly; it struck specific corridors heavily while leaving others untouched. The outages appear to have cascaded from the western neighborhoods toward the downtown core.
According to the PG&E outage map, the following areas have borne the brunt of the failure:
- The Mission District & SoMa: epicenter of the disruption near the substation.
- Richmond District (Inner & Outer): Among the first to lose power.
- Sunset District: Widespread reports of darkness in residential blocks.
- Presidio & Golden Gate Park: Key recreational areas affected.
- Civic Center, Tenderloin, and Western Addition: Scattered but significant outages impacting high-density housing.
Residents in these areas reported immediate loss of internet services, elevator failures in high-rises, and business closures. Restaurants, many fully booked for holiday gatherings, were forced to turn away patrons or serve by candlelight.
Cause Confirmed: Fire at Mission & 8th Substation
The primary catalyst for this massive power outage san francisco event was a fire at a PG&E substation located at 8th and Mission Streets.
San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) officials responded to the scene around 3:15 p.m. on Saturday. Firefighters encountered smoke and active flames within the facility. To safely battle the blaze, power had to be cut or rerouted, which likely triggered the cascading failure across the city’s grid.
SFFD Lieutenant Mariano Elias confirmed that while the fire was contained without structural collapse or injuries, the damage to the electrical infrastructure was significant. “The fire at the substation is a direct contributing factor to the citywide outages,” Elias stated in a press briefing.
PG&E crews have been on-site throughout the night assessing the damage. The utility company has not yet released a detailed report on why the substation caught fire, stating only that an investigation is underway.
Transit Chaos: BART and Muni Disruptions
The sf power outage map of impact extended well beyond residential homes; it severely crippled the city’s transportation network.
- BART: Stations at Powell Street and Civic Center were closed or forced to operate on emergency lighting. Trains bypassed these key downtown hubs for several hours, causing massive delays for commuters. Riders are encouraged to check BART Service Advisories before heading out.
- Muni: The breakdown halted Muni Metro trains in the subway tunnels. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) had to run shuttle buses between West Portal and downtown to bridge the gap. Real-time updates are available via Muni Alerts.
- Traffic: With hundreds of traffic signals offline, the sf power outage turned major thoroughfares like Van Ness Avenue and Geary Boulevard into dangerous bottlenecks.
Restoration Timeline and PG&E Updates
As of Sunday morning, pg&e has restored power to a portion of the affected customers, but tens of thousands remain offline.
In their latest statement, a PG&E spokesperson noted: “We have stabilized the grid and are rerouting power where possible to bypass the damaged substation. We understand the frustration this causes, especially during the holidays. Our crews are working around the clock to effect repairs.”
Current Status:
- Restored: Portions of the Outer Richmond and Sunset have seen power return.
- Still Out: Heavy outages remain in the Mission, SoMa, and parts of the Tenderloin.
- Estimated Time of Restoration (ETR): PG&E has not provided a unified ETR for all customers. Residents are encouraged to check the pge outage sf portal for address-specific updates.
Safety Guidelines for Residents
If you are still affected by the pge outage, officials recommend the following safety steps:
- Unplug Sensitive Electronics: When power returns, “surges” can damage computers and appliances.
- Keep Fridges Closed: An unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours; a full freezer will hold temperature for 48 hours.
- Generator Safety: Never run a generator indoors or in a garage. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a silent killer.
- Check on Neighbors: especially the elderly or those with medical needs who may rely on electric powered devices.
This remains a developing story. As PG&E crews continue repairs at the 8th and Mission substation, we will update this article with the latest restoration estimates.
