A widespread power outage left many San Francisco residents in the dark Saturday, affecting an estimated 130,000 homes and businesses, according to Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E).
The outage primarily impacted the northern part of the city, starting in areas like the Richmond and Presidio neighborhoods, as well as locations near Golden Gate Park. The cause of the blackout is currently under investigation by PG&E. The number of customers affected represents a significant portion of PG&E’s customer base in the city.
Reports from social media and local news outlets indicated that many businesses, including restaurants and shops, were forced to close temporarily. The outage also affected streetlights and holiday decorations, casting a shadow over the city.
The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel due to significant disruptions to public transportation. They also reminded drivers to treat non-functional traffic signals as four-way stops, urging caution and patience on the roads.
Transportation officials confirmed that some Muni bus and BART train stations were being bypassed due to the power disruptions.
Fire officials reported that at least part of the outage stemmed from a fire at a PG&E substation located at 8th and Mission streets.
PG&E stated later in the afternoon that the power grid had been stabilized, and they were not anticipating further outages. However, the company could not guarantee when power would be fully restored to all affected customers. The incident raises concerns about the reliability of the city’s infrastructure and the impact of such widespread outages on residents and businesses.
