SAN FRANCISCO — A widespread power outage left at least 130,000 Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) customers without electricity across San Francisco residents on Saturday, December 20, 2025, affecting about one-third of the city’s homes and businesses and triggering major travel, safety and service interruptions.
The blackout began in the morning and early afternoon, cutting power across numerous neighborhoods including Richmond, Presidio, Sunset, Haight-Ashbury, Forest Hill, Hayes Valley and parts of downtown.
Cause Appears Linked to PG&E Substation Fire
Fire officials reported that a blaze at a PG&E substation near 8th and Mission Streets contributed to the outage, though utility representatives are continuing to investigate the full cause of the breakdown.
PG&E acknowledged the grid was stabilized by mid-afternoon, but full restoration was expected to stretch into Saturday night or early Sunday, with tens of thousands still in the dark hours after the initial blackout.
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Transit Chaos: BART, Muni and Self-Driving Cars Affected
The outage caused significant public transit disruptions:
- BART stations at Powell Street and Civic Center were temporarily closed or without power.
- Muni bus and rail services experienced delays or reroutes due to darkened lines and stations.
- Waymo autonomous vehicles stalled at intersections citywide, leading the company to suspend service temporarily for rider safety.
With many traffic signals failing, city authorities urged drivers to treat intersections as four-way stops to reduce accident risks.
Local Businesses, Holiday Events and Daily Life Disrupted
The blackout struck during a busy holiday weekend, forcing restaurants, shops, cultural attractions and holiday light displays to shut down or operate without power.
Residents shared pictures and firsthand accounts of darkened streets, closed stores and improvised candlelit gatherings as the outage stretched on.
City Response and Safety Advice
San Francisco’s Department of Emergency Management used social platforms to:
- Advise residents to avoid non-essential travel
- Treat non-functioning traffic lights as stop signs
- Check on neighbors, especially vulnerable and elderly community members
Officials emphasized that safety services were mobilized throughout the city to assist with emergencies and maintain public order.
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Businesses Brace for Impact and Future Preparedness
Local commentary on community forums highlighted broader concerns about infrastructure resilience, urging improvements such as backup power systems for critical intersections and transit corridors after the outage exposed vulnerabilities in citywide energy and transportation networks.
Restoration Progress and Ongoing Updates
By late Saturday evening, PG&E reported that tens of thousands of customers had their power restored, while crews continued to work through the night to reach full restoration.
Officials cautioned that exact timelines could not be guaranteed and that additional updates would be shared as conditions evolve.
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