Summary (tl;dr)

A major power outage struck San Francisco on Saturday, December 20, 2025, impacting approximately one-third of the city's PG&E customers and causing widespread disruptions to transportation and daily life. A fire at a PG&E substation was identified as a contributing factor to the extensive blackouts.

Essential Background

Power outages due to equipment failures and aging infrastructure have been a recurring issue in San Francisco. Earlier in December 2025, the city experienced multiple power outages, including two on December 8, which affected nearly 23,000 residents and raised concerns about the reliability of the region's power grid.

The Full Story

On Saturday, December 20, 2025, a significant power outage plunged large sections of San Francisco into darkness, affecting about 130,000 to 135,000 PG&E customers, representing roughly 30% of the city. The outages began around 9:40 a.m. in some areas, spreading throughout the day. A fire that erupted inside a PG&E power substation at 8th and Mission streets around 2:15 p.m. was a contributing factor to the widespread blackouts.

The disruption caused chaos across the city, halting public transportation services like BART and Muni, with Powell Street and Civic Center BART stations temporarily closing. Self-driving Waymo vehicles were also observed stalled at darkened intersections, and the company temporarily suspended its ride-hailing services. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie urged residents to stay indoors and avoid non-essential travel, as many traffic lights were inoperative. While a majority of the affected customers had their power restored by late Saturday evening, some 40,000 to 42,000 customers on the city's west side were expected to remain without power overnight. The incident occurred amidst rainy holiday season weather.

Why It Matters

The extensive power outage during the busy pre-Christmas weekend caused considerable inconvenience and safety concerns for residents and visitors alike. The disruption to public transportation, the stalling of autonomous vehicles, and the inoperative traffic lights highlighted the critical reliance on a stable power supply for a functioning modern city. This event underscores the ongoing challenges faced by San Francisco's power infrastructure and the need for greater resilience, particularly as extreme weather events may become more frequent.

Geographic Location

• San Francisco, San Francisco County, California, United States (widespread power outage affecting approximately one-third of the city)
• 8th and Mission Streets, San Francisco, San Francisco County, California, United States (PG&E substation fire contributing to the outage)
• Powell Street BART Station, San Francisco, San Francisco County, California, United States (BART service temporarily disrupted)
• Civic Center BART Station, San Francisco, San Francisco County, California, United States (BART service temporarily disrupted)