URGENT UPDATE: Over 21,000 residents remain without power in San Francisco following a massive blackout that started Saturday afternoon. While approximately 110,000 PG&E customers have regained service, the remaining outages primarily affect areas including Golden Gate Park, the Presidio, and parts of the Richmond District.
The outage began at around 2:15 PM when a fire broke out in a PG&E power substation. Firefighters had the blaze under control by 4:24 PM, but significant damage has complicated efforts for full restoration. PG&E has stated that it cannot provide a specific timeline for when power will be fully restored but will continue updating customers through social media.
In a post on X, PG&E acknowledged the extent of the damage, stating, “The repairs and safe restoration will be complex.” They have mobilized additional engineers and electricians to expedite the process.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and the city’s Department of Emergency Management have urged residents to avoid nonessential travel and exercise caution on darkened roads. Early reports indicate no significant increase in traffic accidents; however, Lieutenant Mariano Elias noted that the fire department received numerous calls related to people being stuck in elevators and fire alarms activating due to the outages.
As a safety measure, the San Francisco Fire Department has warned against using gas stoves, grills, and generators indoors, as power outages raise the risk of carbon monoxide exposure.
Interestingly, Elon Musk announced that Tesla’s driverless taxis remained operational during the blackout, stating, “Tesla Robotaxis were unaffected by the SF power outage.” In contrast, rival company Waymo suspended operations on Saturday to prioritize safety.
Residents are urged to stay tuned for ongoing updates as PG&E works to restore power. The situation remains dynamic, and officials are closely monitoring developments.
