NEWS

Power Restored to Majority of San Francisco After Massive Outage Disrupts City

Staff December 21, 2025

Power was restored to approximately 110,000 customers in San Francisco Sunday morning following a widespread outage caused by a fire at a key PG&E substation. Restoration efforts continue for remaining affected areas.

Featured image for: Power restored to most in San Francisco after massive outage Power was restored Sunday morning to the bulk of the 130,000 homes and businesses in San Francisco impacted by a massive outage on Saturday that caused major disruptions in the city. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said its crews had restored electricity to about 110,000 customers as of 7 a.m. PST and were working to restore the remaining 21,000 in several neighborhoods and small areas of downtown San Francisco. PG&E said it could not provide a precise timeframe for when the power would be fully restored. “The damage from the fire in our substation was significant and extensive, and the repairs and safe restoration will be complex,” the utility said, referring to the substation at 8th and Mission streets. That fire has been blamed for some of the blackouts. The outage remains under investigation. PG&E said it has mobilized additional engineers and electricians to help with restoration efforts. “This is a very complex work plan and will require the highest amount of safety focus to ensure safe work actions,” PG&E said. No injuries have been reported. The outage, which occurred shortly after 1 p.m. on Saturday, left a large swath of the northern part of the city without power that began to grow in size. At its peak, the outage represented roughly one-third of the utility company’s customers in the city.

San Francisco, CA – Power was restored Sunday morning to the majority of the 130,000 homes and businesses affected by a massive outage that struck the city on Saturday afternoon, causing significant disruptions across northern neighborhoods and parts of downtown.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) reported that as of 7 a.m. Pacific Standard Time, its crews had successfully restored electricity to roughly 110,000 customers. However, approximately 21,000 customers in several neighborhoods and smaller areas of downtown San Francisco remained without power as restoration work continued.

The outage began shortly after 1 p.m. on Saturday and rapidly expanded, ultimately impacting about one-third of PG&E's customer base in San Francisco at its peak. The utility company attributed the blackout to extensive damage caused by a fire at a substation located at 8th and Mission Streets.

"The damage from the fire in our substation was significant and extensive, and the repairs and safe restoration will be complex," PG&E said in a statement. While the fire has been identified as a primary cause of the blackout, investigations into the exact sequence of events remain ongoing.

PG&E has mobilized additional engineers and electricians to accelerate restoration efforts. The company emphasized the complexity of the work, stating that it "will require the highest amount of safety focus to ensure safe work actions." Fortunately, no injuries have been reported in connection with the outage or the fire.

The blackout led to widespread challenges throughout the affected areas, including traffic signal outages, business interruptions, and inconveniences for residents relying on electricity for daily activities. City officials and emergency services coordinated responses to minimize risks associated with the outage.

Despite significant progress in restoring power, PG&E was unable to provide a precise timeline for full restoration, citing the complexity of repairs needed at the damaged substation. The utility company continues to update customers through its official channels as work advances.

San Francisco residents and businesses impacted by the outage are advised to report any ongoing power issues to PG&E and to take necessary precautions while restoration work is underway.

This incident marks one of the largest power disruptions in San Francisco in recent years and highlights the challenges utilities face in maintaining infrastructure amid growing urban demands and safety considerations.