Power Outage in San Francisco: A Comprehensive Overview
SAN FRANCISCO – On Saturday night, San Francisco faced a significant power outage affecting approximately 130,000 customers, which accounts for about 30% of the city’s population. As the day progressed, the situation improved, with power being gradually restored across multiple neighborhoods.
Status of the Outage
According to PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric), the number of customers without power decreased to 95,280 by 8:50 p.m., representing 23% of San Francisco. By 9:45 p.m., the company announced that around 70% of the power had been restored. In a 10 p.m. update, Mayor Daniel Lurie confirmed that many residents were beginning to see their electricity return.
Restoration Efforts
By Sunday morning at 8 a.m., PG&E had successfully restored power to 110,000 customers and continued to work on bringing electricity back to approximately 21,000 customers, particularly in key areas such as the Presidio, Richmond District, and parts of downtown San Francisco.
Timeline of Events
The power outages initially began at around 9:40 a.m. in the Inner Sunset neighborhood, impacting around 14,700 customers. Shortly thereafter, another round of outages affected approximately 25,000 customers in the Richmond District, Presidio, and adjacent areas. In the afternoon, outages spread to parts of the Tenderloin, downtown, the Mission District, and the Chase Center.
Cause of the Outage
City officials traced the problem to a substation located at the intersection of 8th and Mission Streets. This area experienced a fire at around 2:14 p.m., prompting an immediate response from the San Francisco Fire Department. Supervisor Matt Dorsey noted the historical significance of this substation, revealing that it had been responsible for a similar blackout in December 2003, which affected about 120,000 customers.
Public Safety Measures
City officials urged the public not to call 911 for power outage reports unless there was a life-threatening emergency, to keep lines open for genuine emergencies. Mayor Lurie advised residents to avoid traveling as many traffic lights throughout the city were non-functional.
Impact on Transportation
The outages significantly disrupted public transport. The BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) system closed its Civic Center station due to the power outage, with limited service resuming by 11 p.m. Muni services also faced interruptions, with Muni Metro unable to operate underground.
Traffic Woes
Traffic congestion ensued, especially in downtown San Francisco, due to inoperative traffic lights. The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management advised motorists to treat these intersections like four-way stop signs. Some businesses, including Walgreens on Market and Ninth Street, temporarily closed due to the blackout. Additionally, autonomous ridesharing services like Waymo were paused until power was fully restored.
Cultural and Business Disruptions
The outage disrupted several cultural events and business activities across the city. For instance, the matinee performance of Moulin Rouge at the Orpheum Theatre was canceled after just a few minutes due to the power failure. ABC7 confirmed that the Chase Center experienced a brief power interruption from 1:30 to 2 p.m. on the same day.
Looking Ahead: Weather and Power Stability
Forecasts indicated ongoing rain with minimal implications for the power outage; however, further weather developments were on the horizon. Wind gusts could reach 25 mph, prompting continued attention from city officials as PG&E worked on stabilizing power across affected neighborhoods.
For continuous updates on local weather conditions, check out the Live Doppler 7 tracking system.
In conclusion, the recent power outage in San Francisco highlights the challenges urban areas face amid infrastructure issues and extreme weather conditions. The city and PG&E are collaborating closely to restore power while prioritizing public safety.
For further updates on public transit and city services, visit the SFMTA for real-time information.
