San Francisco Plunged Into Darkness: Major Power Outage Halts City and Strands Self-Driving Cars

San Francisco faced a major blackout Saturday night. The outage left over 130,000 customers without electricity. The incident severely disrupted city life and transportation.

Power was knocked out mostly in northwest neighborhoods. Officials confirmed a substation fire was likely involved. The event highlighted the city’s vulnerability to infrastructure failure.

Widespread Disruption and Economic Impact

The outage affected homes and businesses across several districts. Areas like the Richmond and Sunset neighborhoods were hit hard. Hundreds of businesses were forced to close temporarily.

Transportation networks experienced significant failures. According to Reuters, self-driving car services were notably impacted. Waymo, a leading autonomous vehicle company, suspended all its ride-hailing operations in the city.

Videos on social media showed driverless cars stranded on dark streets. The halt aimed to ensure rider safety and give emergency crews clear access. This disruption revealed a key weakness in relying on automated systems during crises.

Emergency Response and Restoration Efforts

The San Francisco Fire Department responded to a fire at a PG&E substation. This was understood to be connected to the widespread power loss. Utility crews worked through the night to restore service.

By Sunday morning, power had been restored to tens of thousands. Pacific Gas and Electric Company provided ongoing updates. They reported no injuries to workers or the public from the incident.

Mayor Daniel Lurie advised residents to use caution. He recommended checking on vulnerable neighbors and using candles safely. The focus remained on full restoration and assessing the cause.

The San Francisco power outage served as a stark reminder of modern urban fragility. It disrupted daily life and critical emerging technology alike. City officials and utility providers continue to investigate the root cause to prevent future incidents.

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What caused the San Francisco power outage?

The outage was linked to a fire at a Pacific Gas and Electric substation. The San Francisco Fire Department reported the incident. Official investigations into the precise cause are ongoing.

Which areas were most affected?

Northwest San Francisco neighborhoods were hardest hit. This included the Richmond, Sunset, and Presidio districts. Golden Gate Park area was also significantly affected.

How did the outage affect self-driving cars?

Waymo immediately suspended its autonomous ride-hailing service. Their cars were seen stopped on darkened streets. The company stated the pause was for safety and to aid emergency access.

How many people lost power?

Over 130,000 customers initially lost electricity Saturday night. Restoration efforts brought that number down significantly by morning. Nearly 30,000 were still without power early Sunday.

Was anyone injured during the outage?

PG&E confirmed there were no injuries to workers or the public. Safety protocols were activated across emergency services. The focus remained on restoring power safely.

What should residents do during a major outage?

Officials advise checking on neighbors, especially seniors. Use flashlights instead of candles to reduce fire risk. Keep freezers closed to preserve food for up to 48 hours.