UPDATE: A massive power outage that struck San Francisco on Saturday has left approximately 40,000 customers still without electricity as of Sunday morning. The outage began just after 1 PM on December 21, 2025, impacting 130,000 homes and businesses and causing significant disruptions across the city.
As of now, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) has restored power to about 90,000 customers, but crews are continuing their efforts to address the remaining outages. The outage peaked at affecting roughly one-third of PG&E’s customers in San Francisco, leading to widespread closures of restaurants and shops, particularly on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
Mayor Daniel Lurie took to social media platform X, urging residents to stay home if possible and to use flashlights instead of candles to mitigate fire risks. He emphasized the importance of safety during this time, stating, “As we head into the night, please take necessary precautions.”
Warnings about significant transit disruptions were issued by the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management, which advised residents to avoid non-essential travel and treat traffic lights as four-way stops. The automated ride-hailing service, Waymo, has temporarily suspended operations, with reports of its vehicles halted in the middle of intersections.
Reports indicate that the outage stemmed from a fire that broke out inside a PG&E substation located at 8th and Mission streets. Fire officials reported the incident on X at around 3:15 PM, but the full cause of the outage is still under investigation.
By 4 PM, PG&E announced that they had stabilized the grid and expected no further outages. As crews continue to work diligently, residents affected are advised to check on neighbors, especially those who may require assistance.
The situation remains fluid, with updates expected throughout the day as recovery efforts continue. Stay tuned for the latest developments as we monitor this urgent situation.
