San Francisco Power Outage Leaves 130,000 Without Electricity Across the City

A major San Francisco power outage cut electricity to about 130,000 customers on Saturday. The blackout hit large parts of the city in the early afternoon. It affected homes, shops, and key transit routes. The outage spread across northern neighborhoods and pushed city services into emergency mode.

According to reports from AP and Reuters, the outage started in the Richmond and Presidio areas. It then moved toward zones near Golden Gate Park. City officials warned of heavy transit delays and asked people to avoid travel unless needed.

San Francisco Power Outage Disrupts Transit and Daily Life

The blackout created sudden and wide disruption. Streets went dark. Shops and restaurants shut their doors. Christmas lights across neighborhoods flickered out. Local agencies said several Muni bus routes and BART stations were bypassed due to the loss of power. This caused delays across the system.

Officials said the outage hit nearly one-third of Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s customers in the city. According to AP, a fire broke out inside a PG&E substation near 8th and Mission streets shortly before 3 p.m. Fire crews put out the blaze, but the damage added strain to the power grid.

City emergency managers said there were major transit issues across San Francisco. They told drivers to treat dark traffic lights as four‑way stops. They also urged residents to stay home if possible. This helped reduce pressure on emergency teams already deployed across the city.

PG&E said the grid was later stabilized. However, the company could not confirm when full power would return. Crews continued inspections into the evening.

Why the San Francisco Power Outage Matters for Residents

The outage forced many people to change weekend plans. Stores closed early. Many restaurants reported lost food supplies. People who relied on electric heat faced cold rooms as temperatures dropped late in the day. Families also lost access to digital services, including home internet and some mobile networks strained by high demand.

According to Reuters, the event showed how fragile parts of the city’s energy system remain. Substations in dense urban zones remain difficult to upgrade. Repairs also take longer due to the age of some units. The fire at the substation raised concerns about grid safety, especially during high‑use seasons.

For commuters, the outage brought new stress. Some buses were rerouted. Some riders waited longer than usual for trains and shuttles. Emergency staff tried to keep people moving, but delays lasted for hours.

City leaders said more updates would follow as the investigation continues. PG&E teams were still working to assess equipment damage late Saturday.

The San Francisco power outage will remain a key issue for residents as officials review what went wrong and how to prevent a similar event.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: What caused the San Francisco power outage?

Officials said part of the outage was linked to a fire at a PG&E substation. Crews put out the fire, but damage to the grid caused wider disruptions. The full cause is still under review.

Q2: How many people lost power?

About 130,000 customers were affected. This included homes, shops, and public facilities across northern San Francisco.

Q3: How long will repairs take?

PG&E said the grid was stabilized but did not confirm a full restoration time. Repairs were ongoing through Saturday evening.

Q4: Were transit services affected?

Yes, several bus routes and some BART stations were bypassed. Riders faced delays and detours across the city.

Q5: Is the grid safe now?

Officials said no more outages were expected after stabilization. A full inspection of the damaged substation will determine long-term safety needs.