San Francisco: 21-12-2025] A massive San Francisco power outage has left approximately 1,30,000 customers facing power outage and the dark this weekend, following a significant fire at a PG&E substation. The sf power outage began Saturday afternoon and quickly escalated, affecting nearly one-third of the city’s residents and businesses during one of the busiest holiday shopping weekends of the year.
As of the latest San Francisco power outage today updates, utility crews are working around the clock in difficult conditions to restore power to the remaining neighbour hoods. City officials have been coordinating with emergency services to manage the fallout of the San Francisco blackout, which has disrupted everything from residential heating to high-tech transit systems.
Causes and Origins of the San Francisco Power outage Blackout
The power outage in San Francisco was triggered by a high-voltage fire at a PG&E substation located at 8th and Mission Streets. The pge outage resulted in a massive failures across the local electrical grid, leading to a major sf blackout that spreaded through the city like a wave.
While the San Francisco Fire Department was able to contain the blaze relatively quickly using specialized carbon dioxide suppressants, the physical damage to the infrastructure caused power outages San Francisco residents haven’t experienced such catastrophic event over many past decades. Local news outlets, including SFGATE, reported that the San Francisco blackout hit the Richmond, Sunset, and Presidio districts the hardest, though the impact was felt as far east as Hayes Valley. The sheer scale of the pge outage sf has raised new questions about the effectivity of the old urban grid system.
Waymo Stranded and Transit in Trouble
The power outage sf caused immediate and visible chaos on city streets, highlighting the city’s deprendancy on a stable electrical supply for modern infrastructure. One of the most notable disruptions involved Waymo autonomous vehicles. During the height of the sf power outage, hundreds of Waymo cars reportedly became stranded or confused at major traffic intersections where traffic signals had gone completely dark.
Because the san francisco power outages disabled traffic lights, the Waymo software, which prioritizes safety, often defaulted to a safe stop mode, effectively blocking lanes and complicating the transit of regular vehicle drivers. Consequently, Waymo was forced to temporarily suspend its entire autonomous ride service in the city to ensure public safety and prevent further grid issue. This incident has sparked a major conversation on SFGATE and social media regarding how autonomous fleets should behave during a total San Francisco power outage.
Monitoring the PGE Outage Map and Restoration
For those who are residing in the currently affected areas by the darkness, the pge outage map remains the most important resource for real-time updates and estimated times of repair. By checking the sf power outage map (often searched by the residents as the sf power outage map), users can see specific block-by-block data of power outage.
The pge outage sf status can be monitored through several official and community tools.
- PGE Outage Map: Search by specific address to see if your neighbourhood is still part of the active San Francisco power outage.
- Alert SF: Residents are encouraged to sign up for text based mobile updates regarding the evolving San Francisco blackout.
- SFGATE: The news site is providing live updates on the logistical impact of the power outage san Francisco.
Current Restoration Status: San Francisco Power Outage Today
Mayor Daniel Lurie held a press briefing on Sunday morning to confirm that, while power has been restored to over 90,000 customers, roughly 40,000 people remain without service. If you are looking for specific information on the San Francisco power outage today, PG&E officials have stated they expect full restoration for the remaining districts by late tonight.
Neighbourhoods still heavily represented on the pge outage map include:
- The Inner and Outer Power Shortage: Largely residential areas still struggling with a lack of power.
- The Richmond District: Many small businesses are remain shuttered due to the sf power outage.
- Golden Gate Park Area: Museums and public attractions have been forced to close due to no power.
We are working with every available resource to resolve the pge outage as quickly and safely as possible, a PG&E spokesperson told SFGATE. We understand the immense frustration this sf power outage has caused, especially during the cold weather and the holiday season.
Safety Guidelines During an SF Blackout
Authorities are reminding everyone that during a San Francisco blackout, safety must be the priority.
- Four-Way Stops: Treat every dark road traffic signal as a four-way stop to avoid collisions when travelling on the road during the San Francisco power outage.
- Outage Preparations: Unplug high-end electronics so they aren’t damaged when the power fluctuate or sudden incoming and outgoing power.
- Stay Informed: Keep a battery-powered radio or a charged smartphone, and emergency rechargeable lights and inverters handy for your power needs, also frequently check the pge outage sf status on the pge outage map on the website.
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