San Francisco Power Slowly Returns After Massive PG&E Outage Leaves City in the Dark

Power began returning to large parts of San Francisco late Saturday night after a massive outage plunged nearly a third of the city into darkness, disrupting public transit, traffic systems and major events during one of the busiest weekends of the year.

At its peak, the blackout left roughly 130,000 homes and businesses without electricity, according to Pacific Gas and Electric, affecting neighborhoods from the west side of the city to downtown and South of Market. Traffic lights went dark across major corridors, transit services were curtailed, and residents were urged to stay off the roads unless travel was essential.

The outage unfolded over the course of Saturday, December 20. Reports of power loss first emerged shortly before 10 a.m. in western neighborhoods before spreading steadily through the late morning and early afternoon. By mid-afternoon, city officials confirmed the problem was linked to a PG&E substation near 8th Street and Mission Street in the South of Market area, where emergency crews responded to a reported fire.

As a safety precaution, electricity was cut across wide sections of the grid, pushing the scale of the blackout well beyond the initial neighborhoods. City officials warned that restoration would take time and urged residents not to call 911 to report outages unless there was a life-threatening emergency, citing the need to keep emergency lines clear.

Mayor Daniel Lurie said residents should avoid unnecessary travel, noting that many intersections were operating without signals. Drivers were advised to treat darkened intersections as four-way stops, while pedestrians were urged to exercise caution as daylight faded.

The disruption rippled quickly through San Francisco’s transportation network. BART temporarily closed Civic Center Station and ran limited service on several lines, while underground Muni services were unable to operate normally, forcing the use of surface shuttles. By late evening, transit agencies said service was gradually returning as power stabilized, though delays persisted into the night.

Businesses and venues across the city were also affected. Some retailers along Market Street closed early, while performances were interrupted or cancelled altogether. A Saturday matinee at the Orpheum Theatre was halted minutes after it began and later called off, sending disappointed audiences back into darkened streets. The Chase Center experienced a brief outage earlier in the afternoon before power was restored.

Technology and mobility services were not spared. Autonomous ride-hailing operator Waymo temporarily paused service across San Francisco, citing safety concerns tied to disabled infrastructure. Internet disruptions were also reported by some providers in affected neighborhoods.

By late Saturday evening, PG&E said restoration was progressing in phases, with a majority of customers seeing power return after nightfall. The utility said crews were continuing repairs and safety checks overnight, with remaining customers expected to be restored as work continued. Live updates were made available through PG&E’s outage status center.

Officials noted that the same substation has been linked to a major blackout in the past, raising renewed questions about infrastructure resilience and preparedness in a city heavily dependent on uninterrupted electricity. Several supervisors said a full investigation would be needed once service is fully restored.

PG&E has not confirmed whether weather played any role in the outage, though rain and gusty winds were forecast across the Bay Area over the weekend. According to the National Weather Service, wet conditions are expected to persist into the coming days.

As power continues to return, the blackout stands as a stark reminder of how quickly daily life in San Francisco can grind to a halt — and how much scrutiny will now fall on the systems meant to keep the city running.

Written by Swikblog Desk.