Power outage leaves 130,000 in San Francisco in the dark
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- A fire at a PG&E substation caused a major blackout, leaving 130,000 San Francisco residents without power.
A major power outage plunged approximately 130,000 homes and businesses in San Francisco into darkness on Saturday night, according to Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). The blackout affected neighborhoods including Richmond, Presidio, and areas near Golden Gate Park.
Authorities urged residents to stay indoors, warning that traffic signals were out and public transport was disrupted. Social media posts and local news outlets reported closures of restaurants and shops, as well as the darkening of streetlights and holiday decorations.
Transportation agencies said some bus and BART stations were bypassed due to the outage.
Fire at substation triggers widespread blackout
Officials said the outage was caused by a fire at a PG&E substation, though the full extent of the damage was still unclear. Emergency management teams deployed traffic officers to intersections to compensate for non-functioning traffic lights.
PG&E said crews were working with local officials to restore power. By around 4 p.m., the company reported that the power grid had stabilized, but it could not confirm when electricity would be fully restored to all affected customers.
