Massive PG&E Outage Plunges 130,000 San Francisco Homes into Darkness

A major power failure struck San Francisco on Saturday. The outage left approximately 130,000 customers without electricity. The disruption impacted neighborhoods across the city.

Pacific Gas & Electric confirmed the widespread incident. The utility stated it is working with city officials and first responders. According to Reuters, the event is one of the largest recent outages for the region.

Investigation Underway for Widespread San Francisco Blackout

The cause remains under investigation. PG&E has not provided an estimated time for full restoration. Initial reports from the SF Chronicle indicate the outage began in two waves.

The first wave hit around 9:40 a.m. It affected over 14,600 customers in the Inner Sunset and Forest Hill areas. A second, larger failure followed at 10:10 a.m.

This second event cut power across the Presidio, Richmond, and parts of downtown. The utility’s outage map showed over 124,000 customers affected. City emergency managers warned residents to prepare for extended delays.

Transportation and Safety Grind to a Halt

The blackout caused significant disruption to public transit. Muni trains bypassed several downtown stations. These included Powell, Civic Center, and Montgomery.

BART also closed its Powell Street and Civic Center stations. System-wide delays were estimated at ten minutes. The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management issued urgent safety advice.

They warned drivers to treat all dark traffic signals as four-way stops. Residents were told to call 911 only for life-threatening emergencies. The focus shifted to community safety and preventing accidents.

Utility crews are racing to restore power across San Francisco. This massive PG&E outage serves as a stark reminder of urban infrastructure vulnerability. The city waits for answers and the lights to come back on.

Thought you’d like to know

Which areas of San Francisco lost power?

The outage heavily affected the Richmond, Sunset, and Presidio districts. Parts of downtown, including areas near Market Street and Golden Gate Park, were also impacted. The SF Department of Emergency Management listed these zones in its alerts.

What caused the power outage?

PG&E has stated the cause is still unknown and under active investigation. They have not cited any specific equipment failure or external cause publicly yet. Updates are expected as crews assess the situation.

How many people were affected?

The utility reported approximately 130,000 customers lost power. This figure represents a significant portion of San Francisco County. The outage map confirmed over 124,000 customers were still without supply hours later.

What should residents do during the outage?

Authorities advise keeping refrigerator doors closed to preserve food. Major appliances should be turned off to prevent surge damage when power returns. Never use outdoor grills or generators indoors due to carbon monoxide risk.

Is there an estimated restoration time?

PG&E initially hoped for restoration by mid-afternoon. However, they have since removed that estimate as the investigation continues. Customers are urged to check the official PG&E outage center for real-time updates.