A significant power outage in San Francisco affected approximately 130,000 homes and businesses over the weekend, leaving more than 16,000 customers without electricity as of Sunday afternoon. The outage began on Saturday, December 9, 2023, reportedly due to a fire at a Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) substation located at 8th and Mission streets.
Most of the impacted customers saw power restored within hours. PG&E crews managed to bring electricity back to around 114,000 customers, including 4,000 on Sunday. However, outages persisted in areas such as the Presidio, Richmond District, Golden Gate Park, and parts of downtown San Francisco.
Impact on Transportation and Local Businesses
The blackout struck during one of the busiest weekends leading up to Christmas, forcing local shops and restaurants to close their doors. Public transit faced significant disruptions, particularly affecting the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and San Francisco’s Muni network. Many residents found themselves stranded, unable to return home as service was suspended.
Waymo, the autonomous taxi service, also had to halt operations due to vehicles stalling at intersections where traffic signals were out. This created substantial traffic congestion, making it difficult for emergency vehicles to navigate the city.
The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management reported the need for residents to avoid nonessential travel and to treat downed traffic signals as four-way stops. BART stations at Powell Street and Civic Center were closed during the outage, with services only gradually being restored later in the evening.
Restoration Efforts and Community Support
By 16:00 on Saturday, PG&E had stabilized the grid, preventing further outages. The utility company has opened a Community Resource Center at 251 18th Ave in the Richmond District. This center offers services such as charging stations for electronics, free Wi-Fi, bottled water, and customer support. It operates from 17:00 to 22:00 on Sunday and 08:00 to 22:00 on Monday.
PG&E is collaborating with the 211 Providers Network to conduct wellness checks for vulnerable customers and is working with the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers to provide food vouchers and hotel placements.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie provided updates on social media, stating, “PG&E has informed us that they expect full power to be restored by 14:00 tomorrow. If your power is still out and you need help, come to the Richmond Rec Center at 251 18th Ave.”
In an official statement, PG&E confirmed its expectation to restore power to all remaining customers by no later than 14:00 on Monday. The utility emphasized that crews would continue working diligently until every customer has their service reinstated.
As recovery efforts continue, residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and prepared for potential incoming storms that could affect additional areas. No injuries have been reported as a result of the outage, which remains under investigation.
This incident highlights the importance of infrastructure resilience, especially during peak periods when community services are most needed.
