News - San Francisco Plunged into Darkness by Major Power Outage

A major power outage plunged approximately 130,000 homes and businesses into darkness across San Francisco on Saturday, as reported by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. This outage affected a significant portion of the city's northern region, starting in Richmond and Presidio neighborhoods and spreading to areas around Golden Gate Park. Initial indications suggest the blackout may have been partly due to a fire at a PG&E substation located at 8th and Mission streets, which fire officials confirmed. This incident exacerbated the city's struggles as traffic lights went out, causing significant transit disruptions, and prompting the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management to advise residents to treat intersections with down traffic signals as four-way stops. As PG&E scrambled to stabilize the power grid, it managed to contain the issue temporarily around 4 p.m., although the utility could not assure residents of a complete restoration of power later on Saturday. This uncertainty impacted countless businesses, leading to widespread shop closures, while restaurants shut their doors amid the growing inconvenience. Social media was abuzz with images and reports showing pitch-black streets, silent and inactive transit hubs, and unlit Christmas decorations—their usually vibrant displays now dull and unremarkable, highlighting the city's struggle to maintain normalcy. PG&E's service cut accounted for about one-third of its San Francisco customer base—an indication of the severity and reach of the outage. Even as some relief arrived with grid stabilization, the wider effect on transportation saw certain Muni bus and BART train stations bypassed, further complicating the city’s typical weekend hustle. Residents were advised to limit travel to essential needs as officials worked to address this crisis. Efforts were being made to assess the full impact, and citizens were encouraged to stay informed through official channels. Updated notifications were assured as the situation progresses and better unfolds. This incident underscores the vulnerability of essential infrastructure in urban locales, and the significant disruptions that follow when such systems falter. For now, the city remains in a state of anticipation as it awaits the restoration of its power and daily rhythm.